IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


Hi  §23.    |2.5 

I  lis  IIIIIM 

HIUu 


m 


1.25 

114.  ffll.6 

■• 6"     

► 

pf 


m 


Ta 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


V 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


^A  '  ^ 


^^  '"'^'^ 


^ 
> 


'<«^ 


"»*) 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


^ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographfques 


Tha  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilmd  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


F 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de.  couleur 


rry\    Covers  damaged/ 
^iXj    Couverture  endommagde 


D 


D 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I — I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


D 

I — I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

0    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

□    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

□    Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
11  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 


D 
D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  Image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires; 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


M 

24X 


28X 


D 

32X 


\ 


ire 

details 
es  du 
modifier 
er  une 
filmage 


6es 


re 


»y  errata 
Bd  to 

int 

ne  pelure, 

ipon  d 


\ 

\ 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanlcs 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


1 

2 

3 

L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g^n^rositd  de: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6X6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  6  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  ii  est  filmd  6  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

mm^ 


k. 


8ia.l>y« 


:^«ide  MWarj-,  Pocket  BdiUon.  Issued  Triweekly.    By  Subscription  «S6  per  "J""'" ,__ 
888,  l.y  Oeorve  MuBro-Bniered  M  (be  Poet  Offlce  at  New  York  u  aeoond  olau  r»te..-M8y  18. 1385 


THE 


Hew  York  Fireside  CoMPiHio 

Essemiallj  a  Paper  for  tie  Home  Circle. 


PURE,  BRIGHT  AND  INTERESTIN( 


THE  FIRESIDE  COMPANION  numbers  among  Its  contributors  the  best  o    _ 
IWntt  flction  writers.  ^  .'■-     ;, '•  *"    •■  •■  •'■ 

Its  Detective  Stoiies  are  the  most  absorbing  ever  published,  and  ^ Its  H 
clalties  are  features  peculiar  to  this  journal. 


A  Fashion  Article,  embracing  the  newest  modes,  prices,  etc.,  by  a  noted, 
.modiste,  is  printed  In  every  number. 

The  Answers  to  Correspondents  contain  reliable  Information  on  eveiy  cor 
'mIMM*  iMNect.    . 


■   -         i 

TERMS  :-Tmi  Vww  ToM  Fiebside  Companion  will  be  sent  for  one  ye< 

on  receipt  of  $8:  two  coplM  for  $5.     Getters -up  of  clubs  can  afterward  a. 

.1,^  copies  at  $2.90  eadi.      We  will  be  responsible  for  remittances  sent 

^P^lM-ed  Letters  or  by  Pwtofflce  Money  Orders.     Postage  free.     Specim* 

■*^pta«  tent  free.  •      , 

GEORGE  MUNRO,  Publisher, 

p.  0.  Box  37B1.  17  to  27  Vandewater  Street,  New  Tor 


A  WEEK  OF  PASSION ; 


OR, 


Tie  Dilema  i  Mr.  Georp  Bartoii  lie  Yomier. 


INTERESTIN 


iniong  Its  contributors  the  best  o    < 


A  NOVEL. 


jing  ever  published,  and. its  «r 


It  modes,  prices,  etc. 


,  by  a  noted?        /  () 


.  <• 


reliable  Informatloti'  oil  every  cor 


■   '         < 
[PANioM  will  be  sent  for  one  ye< 
•a-iip  of  cliibs  can  afterward  a< 
sponsible  for  remittances  sent 
Orders.     Postage  free.     Specimt 


/ 


By  EDWARD  JENKINS. 


O,  Publisher, 

^andewater  Street,  Nev  Tor! 


NEW.  TOBK: 
OEORGE   MUNUO,   PUBLISHER, 

17    TO   87  ViNOEWATBIl    8tRB«T. 


\-. 


> 


^V'  ,i 


n. 


DEDICATION 

IN  FRANK   ACKNOWLEDGMENT   OK  MANY  COfRTESIEil 

AND  AS  A  TESTIMONY  OF 

inrVABYlNG  11EGAHD  FOR  NOBLE  QUALITIES  EARNESTLY  EMPLOYBD 

THIS  STUDY  OF  HUMAN   EMOTIONS 

CHIEFLY  IN  THE  SPHERE  WHICH  HE  ADORNS  AND  DIGNIFIES 

IS  DEDICATED 

TO  THE  EARL  OF  CARNARVON. 


1/ 


•^■^.1: 


t-  COUBTE9IE8 

ISNESTIiY  EMPLOTBD 

IONS 

S  AND  DIGNIFIES 

RVON. 


A  WEEK  OF  PASSION. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A    SENSATION. 

Ac'Hoss  Regent  Circus  one  June  afternoon,  at  the  top  of  the  «ea- 
son,  tlie  8un,  drooping  down  over  Notling  mil,  shot  his  briglit  rays 
along  the  brond  piano  of  Oxford  Wtreet,  on  n  scene  ot  motley  and 
vivacious  tumult.    The  tide  of  trafHc,  which  had  been  swelling  all 
the  day  aloni,'  tlie  great  channels  of  metropolitan  movement,  was 
oow  at  its  height.    Running  with  a  strong  Qush  trom  east  and  west, 
and  north,  and  south,  its  currents  met  and  commingled  tlieir  varied 
waters  In  this  narrow  lock,  or  strait,  where  the  prisnintic  toam  and 
spray   from  the  nristocrutic  fountains  of  Mayfair,  Belgravia,  or 
Tyburnia  Hashed  lightly  against  tlie  dull,  foul,  turbid  torrenU  tiiat 
poured  from  a  tliousand  fetid  sources  of  misery  and  crime;    and 
strong,  impetuous  currents  ot  trade  ruBhed  biusqnely  by  the  calmer 
and  more  indolent  eddies  ot  wealth  and  pleasure.    Up  and  down 
Oxford  Street,  up  and  down  Regent  Street,  poured  the  incessant 
traffic,  brisk,  noisy,  turbulent,  with  grating  sound  ot  wheels,  and 
patter  clatter  of  horses'  hoofs  and  cries  of  drivers,  the  deep,  sea-like 
murmur  of  Innumeiable  voices,  and  the  tramp  and  shuffle  of  count- 
less feet.  The  lumbering  omnilmses,  perpetually  coming  and  goinir, 
discharged  or  embarked  with  feverish  haste  hundreds  of  eager  pas- 
sengers, while  conductors  and  drivers  exchanged  injurious  compli- 
ments with  the  harried,  badgered  policemen,  who.  exhibiting  an 
Argus-like  vigilance  and  mercurial   activity,  strove  to  give  some 
sort  ot  direction  to  the  jangling  currents  ot  humanity  that  swirled 
around  them.   Now  and  then  some  odd  impediment  vould  be  rolled 
into  the  melee,  an  overladen  truck,  a  broken-down  cab,  a  fallea 
.''orse,  an  omnibus  with  an  obstinate  driver  or  tinraanageable  team, 
which  would  choke  up  fhe  passage,  cimnge  the  currents  into  a 
whir,  pool,  and  set  the  surging  tides  a-roaring  all  about  It  in  hideous 
tijm'ilt.    Here  and  there,  through  the  more  vulgar  ruck  of  wagons, 
carts,  cabs,  hansoms,  and  omnibuses,  fine  horses  in  magnificent 
equipages  where  rank  and  beauty  aired  their  gay  plumage  on  silken 
cushions,  picked  their  way  in   stately  pride.    On  tlie  pavement, 
the  crowds  ot  foot-passengers  circled  apd  Jostled;  hurrying,  idling, 
sauntering;   ogling,  staring;  busy,  vacant,  alert;   sly,  mean,    ele- 
gant, shabby,  flashy;  timid,  brazen,  guileieps,  vicious,  or  criminal 
—a  strange  congeries  ot  misery  and  gayety,  of  sober  diligence  and 
empty  lolly,  of  light,  hopeful  youih,  and  hopeless,  disillusioned. 


^  A     \\V.V.K    OF    PASSION. 

.  .  r.,.>.>iritv_i>ll  ordi'tlv  In  tin-  initUf  of  disonlor,  ninl  ex- 
}:3vt."lil^?om-  l"S-^  thWr  ....sou,s  ...uncH  ot  V.suvinn 
imssuMi  mill  iiilminmi  or  iinsodiil  Hcntliii.nt.  . 

'    llT,.  iliin   ihiH  Tliurx.lav   ulteruooii.  on  ll.c  JOlli  of  .Ii  nt   IK    , 

^; ir  "uiS  n"o  the  .ur   ro.n  hun.ln..lH  of  i-nlo  un.l  nuivcinj;  l.ps. 

i^iiiiii 

rnrr?"^S.^ot  l.laC&ruL  ^^^-l  hisHtUeUger. 

tiophe  hns  humane  .    1'^  »"^V^,^«  ^P;^"!!*^"  mml.lcne.l  horse  strug- 
gling  to  recover  his  tooim^.ia^^^  firmly  clinclied  between   his 

SrSh^u  ESin^U  proaucin«j;.e  no^ 

fSon'hS  KeTirnsely  TocllS-mnrpeople  had  been 
rtelonat  on  had  heen  im^^^^  excepting  always  the  prosl rate 

tnay'  Terror  ?oCSlicemeu  specJdily  ran  from  the  vanous 
Jffi  .  Je l^ley  l^d  .J.  staUoned^^Jhe  on  y  v^e  .. 
Um  ot  the  accident     But  i.vu     s  ^uey  "         ,       .     ,^       ,jgj 
.heeked-.hey  »oo)^-\;Xsc .  bS^irboXTr  u  J  ironf  the  crowd 
j;'p,Sd^hoSttTops  ol  the  omnibuses,  from  coachmen  and 


(Ilsordor,  nnil   ex- 
lluinus  of  Vcsuvinn 

2()lli  of  .Tiiiio,  lb;)-, 
I  lie  watili  (it  Scr- 
)f  till!  tinu--lnsliin- 
r  oulci-y,  H  louil  I'X- 
L'irciiH.'ttli'xik  cvury 
leiir  iiml  tl(■llll)lill^^ 
■fill,  tliL'ii  II  uiiiver- 
oiTi  the  center,  mid 
Bl  shops  tor  shelter. 
"  Niiro  Olyeeiiiicr* 
iiml  (iiiiveiiiin  lips- 
i:.     lioiseu  siurleit, 
(1  Iiml  iiiinine;!  their 
p  fiUeil  the  ftir.  One 
lU  been  close  to  the 
,  rcHreel  liiiih,  paweil 
J  neck  covere.l  with 
fiiik',  ovevturiieil  the 
U  chI),  driven   liy  « 
.e  between  hi»  lips,  a 
inn,  Imvini;  conic  up 
I  Deloiu  lo  allow  an 
iiiirluihlu  lor  liis  cool 
W(J  ol  his  lillle  tiger, 

had  suhidecl,  it  was 
le  of  llie  Cltcus,  not 
.1  strange,  instinctive 
)t  which  some  catns- 
ng  wfiB  to  bo  seen  ex- 
iiddeneil  horse  strug- 
enable  Jehu  exteuiled 
linched  between   his 
e  little  tlRor,  wlio  hud 
I  a  hand  on  the  bridle 
the  explosion,  which 
owd,  was  visible.     It 
the  depression  which 
fall  ot  a  caunon-biill 
ave  expected  to  have 
e  noise  and  concussion 
that  the  elTect  ot   tlio 
jny  people  had  been 
;  always  the  prostrate 
rim  from  the  various 
t  the  only  visible  vic- 
ived,  their  course  was 
on  ot  mingled  wonder 
n-,  up  trom  the  crowd. 
},  troin  coach  men  and 


A     WEEK    or    PA8.>«I0X.  9 

liveried  footmen,  from  ladies  in  the  rarrliige«,  and  people  who  had 
been  picklni;  their  way  across  tlic  Circus  on  tool. 

"  lllood'" 

lllood  sprinkled  in  a  fine  rain,  and  hero  and  lliere  in  hir^'o  drops, 
on  fact's,  on  hiinds,  on  brifrht  dtrsscs,  and  liiilit  bonnets,  and  silken 
siinsliiules.  and  delicate-tiiilcd  irlovcs;  on  shiny  lints,  and  Ivory  shirt- 
fronls,  and  Nsliite  c-alsteoals,  and  with  it  hiio  anil  there  smal! 
knobs  and  piirticles  ot  soniethlni,'  which  made  people  Insiinctively 
sliuddiT  and  cry  out,  when  they  liccame  conscious  of  its  presenca 
on  skin  or  clotliir.p! 

W  hat  had  happened? 

Amid  a  scene  of  wild  terror  and  confusion,  the  babble  of  a  thoti- 
snnd  tonirticH,  the  gatherinjj  pressure  ot  eajrer  mobs  that  came  riin- 
ninij;  up  Keu;ent  Street,  liown  from  Portland  Place,  and  aloiij;  Ox- 
ton!  Street,  ICast  and  West,  breathless,  clamoious,  asking:  "  What 
is  it?  "What  fs  it  all  about?  Who  is  liurl?"  Ilic  police  vainly  strove 
to  keep  bark  the  crowd,  and  to  acfjuire  some  Ideaof  what  hud  actu- 
nlly  occurred.     It  was  no  easy  task. 

No  one  could  l)e  found  who  had  seen  anvtlnni;— no  one  who  had 
felt  anythint;  beyond  n  shocK ;  no  bodies  layabout,  excrpt  that  ot 
the  younu  jfentleman,  who  afipearcd  to  l)e  alive,  though  senseless 
froni  a  cut  on  tlie  head,  but  he  was  evidently  untouched  by  any  ex- 
plosive. There  were  no  palpable  sij^'us  except  tliat  rain  of  flesh  and 
blood,  which  had  sent  a  irlinsily  thrill  of  horror  through  the  crowd, 
and  a  dent  in  the  roadway  aliont  the  si/.e  ot  a  Frencli  wash-baBln. 

^loilern  science  had  ai'iiieved  a  fresli  marvel.  A  horrible  crime 
had  been  committed  in  the  piesence  of  a  thousand  people  -ind  there 
appeared  lo  be  no  truces  left,  either  ot  the  victim  or  the  perpetrators. 

Sergeant  Tugg.  of  the  Y  Division,  alone  seemed  to  have  retained 
his  piesence  ot  mind,  lie  rapidly  gave  orders  to  the  two  or  three 
policemen  at  hand,  and  induced  a  few  bystanders  ot  steadier  nerves 
than  the  rest  to  assist  in  keeping  back  the  crowd.     One  policeman 

flicked  u])  the  prostrate  ircntleman,  and  he  was  conveyed  to  a  niourn- 
ng  shop  at  the  corner,  where  the  young  ladies,  trembling  with  tear, 
and  palpitating  with  the  unusuui  excitement  of  having  to  tend  a 
handsome  beau  under  such  circumstances,  fluttered  alioul  him  with 
kind  but  useless  attentions.  The  sergeant  himself  seized  the  horse's 
brid'e  and  managed  to  pull  him  up  on  his  teet,  the  broken  shafts 
dangling  at  his  flanks.  The  animal  stood  trembling;  his  face  and 
silky  chestnut  breast  seemed  to  have  been  dashed  over  with  a  mixt- 
ure of  crimsoQ  and  black.  The  policeman  looked  at  his  hands, 
which  had  touched  the  breast  of  the  horse,  and  saw  with  a  shudder 
that  it  was  blood  which  had  drenched  the  noble  creature.  Looking 
round  keenly  he  could  find  no  trace  on  the  ground  ot  anything 
which  woulcl  account  lor  the  explosion.  The  iittle  tiaer,  standing  on 
his  Iocs,  held  the  horse's  head  on  the  oft -side,  and  tried  to  soothe 
liim  with  his  voice.  The  boy's  eyes  'ooked  as  if  tliey  would  burst 
from  his  head,  his  cheeks  were  deadly  pale,  his  teetii  ciiuiterod 

"What  was.it,  .young  man?"  said  tlie  sergeant.  "  Was  your 
master  acarrying  hexplosives  ilirough  the  streets,  hey?" 

Ills  eye  had  the  severity  of  .lustic*!  in  lier  first  inquisitive  mood. 

"  My  lord, "cried  the  boy,  "  carrying  explosions  in  his  cab!  Stuft 
and  nonsense,  bobby.     Why,  didn't  you  see  what  happened?" 


[*:: 


6  A     WEKK     OK    I'ASrtlON. 

"  No,  sir.  or  fUo  I  wnuuln't  n  liMkctl  yo>i  "— wllli  tllgnlty. 
Tilt!  Imy  «tr<:tili('il  his  linnd. 

"  .IiiHt  w  we  wiiH  iirrived  iherc,  righl  by  llii)  Innip,  »iul  n:y  lord— 

"  VVlml  lord?" 

"  Why.  llic  Kiirl  ot  Tillnirv.  1  hliould  Imvo  tlioiiKlit  you  d 
uUnowM  liliii.  Mv  lord  hud  piilU'd  up  ritm-tliiil's  Hit!  lior»o'» 
iinim!— to  lul  an  oiiiiiilniB  piw*.  niiil  I  wirt-  n  looking  round  Iroin  bo- 
liinil  to  HIT  what  wcru  up,  iintl  lluri!— iIkIiI  iUcru,  wiicrt;  thiit  llttlo 
hole  Is— ilieri!  Wirt!  a. irfulli'nmn,  H  short  gciilli-ninn,  llvi!  ffet  six  or 
so.  )iii8«inn  rinhl  in  fioiit  ot  our  hornc,  when  all  of  n  siulilen  like— 
widlll  llifri!  wftg  u  nolBi!,  niul  hf  WfUt  into  ten  thousand  million 
pl«i«H.  1  Ri-e  it  in  u  thish.  ami  1  ilon'l  know  no  niori-.  Thai  thero 
ou  the  hf.rsu'H  nrck  and  on  your  hands  Ih  what  conu'  troni  hint,  ser- 
geant.    JMayhe  it's  one  o'  llieni  ilinamighty-ists." 

Hergeant  Tukk  examined  tho  boy  for  a  monunt  sternly,  as  became 
a  mfud)er  of  the  Force,  listening  to  such  a  tale  from  the  lips  of 
horsey  youth,  to  see  wlielher  he  vva«  trying  to  "  ganuuon  "  him;  Imt 
the  tiger's  aspect  and  manner  were  altogether  too  serious  to  admit  of 
•uch  a  sunpleion.  lie  wasdrcadlully  liighlencil.  and  in  earnest,  and 
the  policeman,  while  he  tried  to  clean  his  lumds  with  a  dirty  hanil- 
kereiiief,  was  so  stunned  by  ilie  unlieara-of  explanation  tlie  boy  had 
griven,  that  he  was  rnly  awakeuetl  out  of  his  reverie  by  tho  press- 
ure of  the  crowd  upon  him,  wliich  had  become  dangerous,  lie 
drove  his  elbowB  out  vigorously.  

"  Hack,  1  say!    Hlgby,  Wiugels,  .lones,  keep  eia  all  back  I 

"  What  is  it?     What  is  it?"  cried  tliu  crowd. 

Tlio  fiergeant  could  not  lesist  so  great  an  opporlunily  ot  showing 
ofl  his  ollicial  perspicacity. 

•'  It's  a  Fenian  houtrage!    A  man  has  blown  hisself  up! 

"  'What  docs  he  say?"  shouted  those  who  were  out  ot  hearing, 

A  stentorian  voice,  near  the  guardian  ot  pulilic  safety,  bnllowcil 
in  a  tone  ot  raillery.  ,^  ,„ 

•'  He  sav.s  it's  -i  Fenian  has  blown  hitnsjlf  up  with  dynamite! 

A  London  crowd  is  as  clmngeablc  aa  yeast.  It  ferments  or  goes 
flat,  tir  is  sweet  or  sour  in  a  momeiil.  The  concourse,  which  an  in- 
stant before  had  *)een  sliuddering  with  an  Indertiiable  horror,  now 
suddenly  burst  into  u  rattling  peal  of  derision  and  hiugliter. 

"  Ila!  hal  ha!" 

"Ho!  ho!  ho!" 

"  Say.  bobby,  where  is  he?     Where's  he  none  to?" 

''  Pick  1dm  up.  bobby.    Save  the  piecosil" 

"  Run  him  in!"  etc..  etc. 

Nothing  witty,  but  chall— none  the  less  aggravating  to  a  dignified 
officer  of  the  pe'ace. 

The  laugliler  was  prolonged  oil  round  tho  vast  concourse,  Tnhlcli 
had  berora*;  massed  in  luu  Circus,  uud  through  the  skirts  of  the 
crowd,  now  extending  far  down  tlie  udjacent  streets,  as  tho  report 
ot  tho  sergeant's  theory  went  from  mouth  to  mouth.  The  idea  of  a 
Fenian  blowing  himself  up  in  this  sensational  manner  seemed  to  be 
diverting. 

Sergeont  Tugg  looked  round  ot  the  man  with  the  big  vuice— a 
stout,  llorid,  yellow-haiwd  lorkshlreman,  with  great  broad  sUoul- 


r. 

'—Willi  dignity. 

li\mp,  aiKl  n:y  lord— " 

huve  thoin;lil  you'd 
in  — thill's  Ihi!  lior»t''» 
lolting  round  I  mm  be- 
liiTu,  when!  thiit  llttlo 
L'lnnn,  llvii  feet  nix  or 
nil  (if  II  middi'ti  lilte— 
ten  tlioiiHiind  niilllon 
no  more.  Tlml  there 
I  conic  trom  hliii,  ser- 
Is." 
till  slurnly,  ns  hecame 

tiile  Iroiii  the  lips  of 
'  giiniinon  "  him;  l)Ut 
loo  Hi'iioiiHto  itdmit  of 
id,  iind  in  cnrncst,  and 
ds  Willi  IV  dirty  hand- 
;plunution  the  hoy  hud 

reverie  by  the  press- 
conie  diiii^crous.     llo 

ep  'email  back!" 

d. 

[iporlunily  ot  showing 

n  hisself  up!" 
lore  out  ot  honring. 
uliiic  salety,  hnllowed 

lip  with  dj'nnmite!" 

It  ferments  or  goes 
incourse,  which  an  in- 
detlimbiu  horror,  now 
and  laughter. 


me  to?" 


;ravating  to  a  dignified 

vast  concourse,  ■which 
)U};li  the  skirts  of  the 
t  streets,  as  the  report 
mouth.  The  idea  of  a 
1  manner  seemed  to  be 

with  the  big  vuice— a 
ilh  great  broad  sUoul- 


T 


A    WEKK    OF    PASSION.  7 

dcrs,  dro^Hcd  in  n  li);ht  lionicMpim  suit,  and  showing  on  his  umple 
iMiHom  iilioui  liiill  nil  iirro  of  liueu. 

"  Vouriiiime,  n\r't"  he  said. 

"  .My  imine!  What  foi?"  said  the  other,  laughing.  "  You're 
not  goinjr  i<>  arrest  mu  tor  Iclting  them  what  you  said?" 

"  No;  I  want  you  as  a  wilness. " 

"  Me!"  tried  the  Yorlsshircniim,  looking  round  appeallngly to  the 
crowd.     "  1  know  nolhlng  iiliout  it." 

'  Dim't  you?    Tlun  I  want  your  coat  and  waistcoat  and  shirl,  " 

lie  poiiilcd  to   the  articles. 

The  YorlvHliiremiin  looked  down,  and  for  the  llrst  time  hccamo 
aware  tliiit  In-,  too,  was  splashed  with  .s]iul8  ot  cilinson  and  hiack. 
Ue  I  limed  pale. 

"By !     What's  that?" 

"  Ulood!  '  said  tlie  sergeant,  with  a  solemnity  which  at  any  other 
time  would  have  struck  the  observer  as  comic,  as  ho  pointed  with  n 
huiri'  toreliiiger.  "  Hits  of  a  man's  tlesh  among  it,  I  think.  I'lierol 
see,  on  3 our  shirf.  a  few  liiiirs— some  bits  of  wool." 

"  Oh,  diisli  It— I  say,  let's  gel  out  of  this!"  said  the  man,  lifting 
his  jiowerlul  arms,  and  struggling  to  back  out  through  the  crowd. 

"  Not  so  fast,"  said  the  sergeant,  (luielly,  putting  his  fingers  on 
the  man's  shoulder.  "  Your  name  and  adilrcss.  1  must  have  those 
thinifs." 

"  So  you  shall,  but  tor  Heaven's  sake  let  me  go  and  take  them 
off!  Samuel  Hilton,  beverley,  Y'orkBhire.  1  am  at  the  Craven 
Hotel." 

'■  Good.  Y'oii  will  let  mo  have  your  clothes  tonight?  1  will  call 
for  them.     Stay,  do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  saw  nothini;?" 

"  1  saw  nothing  at  all — on  mj'  honor.  1  was  there — coining  this 
way— but  1  was  looking  round  at— at  a  lady.  Suddenly  1  hoard  a 
noise  that  nearly  deateiied  me,  and  a  strong  wind  like  went  pqst  me. 
Tnen  1  liad  to  jump  out  ot  the  way  ot  this  trap,  or  It  would  have 
lalien  on  me.     That's  all  I  know." 

The  Vorkshirenian  went  oft,  and  the  policeman  turned  to  look  tor 
others.  Thereupon  every  one  who  had  on  him  any  ot  those  small, 
ghastly  marks  of  the  disaster  beiran  to  button  himself  up  and  get 
away  as  fast  as  possible;  for  Londoners  are  not  fond  ot  going  into 
the  witness  box  at  the  Old  Hailey.  It  is  too  rude  and  open  a  con- 
fessional oven  for  the  most  pious  of  men. 

Nevertheless,  by  great  energy  and  activity,  the  police,  now  that 
they  had  seized  the  idea,  worked  at  it,  and  succeeded  In  gelling  the 
names  ot  about  thirty  people  who  had  lieen  netir  the  spot,  and  had 
either  felt  the  shock  ot  the  explosion  or  bore  some  traces  of  it  about 
their  peisons.  Not  one  ot  the  crowd  was  hurt.  No  one,  except  the 
tiger,  appeared  to  have  seen  the  victim  or  the  agent  ot  the  explosion. 
The  police  were  convinced  that  the  boy's  account  was  correct.  An 
unknown  man,  dressed  as  a  gentleman,  crossing  Oxford  Circus  in 
broad  daylight,  had  suddenly  exploded  in  the  middle  ot  a  concourse 
ot  moving  humanity,  and*  gone  Into  a  hundred  thousand  pieces, 
leaving  no  traces  except  minute  spots  ot  blood  and  bits  ot  flesh  and 
clothing,  which  had  fallen  in  a  shower  over  a  large  space  There 
Wiis  no  clew  to  this  individual's  name,  position,  address,  or  to  the 


^ 


8 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


motives  which  had  brought  him  there,  chiirgcd  with  tlie  fearful 
torcea  liy  wliich  he  lia<l  bui'U  ins'nntdiieouily  reduced  to  atoms. 

Retore  midnight  tlie  news  of  llie  catastrophe  liad  spread  tlirougli 
all  that  part  of  the  metropolis  wlii(;h.  during  tlie  season,  cons;ilute8 
"  London;"  at  the  chilis,  in  the  House  ot  Commons,  at  tlie  dinner- 
tables  of  society,  nothing  elsu  was  talked  of:  it  wiu..  bruited  \bout 
among  the  shop-keeiiers  and  other  dependents  of  the  wealthy  quar- 
ters; in  the  servants'  halls  of  iJelgiavia,  Mayfair,  Bromptnu,  and 
Kensington.  The  eveuins  papeis  hail  hastily  iiearted  tlieir  reports, 
"  Siii)poscd  Fenian  Outrage, "  though  who  were  the  outragers  and 
■who  the  outraged  by  this  strange  event,  beyond  tiie  unfortunate 
person  who  hail  spoiitiineotisly  exploded,  the  editors  did  not  even 
hazard  a  guess.  It  was  not,  however,  till  next  niornini:  tliat,  bi> 
means  of  the  lndefatigril)le  reporters  and  the  unwearied  praters  ol 
our  colossal  service  ot  journalism,  tlie  whole  of  the  four  millions  of 
London  were  able  to  form  a  cleur  idea  ot  wlif  t  had  happened,  and 
to  learu  how  much  and  liow  little  was  known  about  tlie  incident, 
its  victim,  and  its  causes.  The  account  of  "Tlie  Thunderer," 
which  was  the  least  sensational,  will  inform  the  reader  of  all  1  hat 
had  been  discovered  and  suspected  within  the  few  hours  which  in- 
tervened between  si.\  in  the  afternoon  ot  Thursday,  the  26th,  and 
three  in  the  morning  of  Friday,  the  27th  instant. 

(From  "  The  Thunderer.") 

"  Yesterday  afternoon,  at  about  lialf  past  four  o'clock,  there  oc- 
curred in  Regent  Circus  one  of  the  most  nivstertous  and  horrible 
events  wliici*  it  has  ever  been  our  lot  to  chronicii'  in  these  columns. 
In  tail  daylight,  in  the  midst  of  acrowd  of  pedeslriaueof  all  classes, 
flnd  a  current  of  vehicles  of  every  description,  a  loud  and  startling 
explosion  took  place,  quite  close  to  the  refuge  eslabtislied  for  the 
protection  of  foot-passen^eis  in  the  center  of  the  Circus.  The 
utmoBt  terror  was  excite(t  ui  the  varied  and  busy  multitude  which  is 
always,  at  thai  hour,  to  be  found,  especially  during  the  season,  con- 
centrated at  that  junction  of  trafflc. 

"  When  the  explosion  took  place  a  sudden  panic  seized  the  crowd, 
who  dashed  toward  the  pavements  and  into  the  shops,  while  the 
disorder  and  commotion  produced  in  the  vehicular  traffic  beggars 
•fescription.  Besides  the  main  actor,  agent,  or  victim,  as  we  may 
please  to  call  the  individual  thus  incontinently  blown  out  ot  exist- 
ence, and  into  atoms  so  minute  that  it  may  be  said  nothing  remains 
of  him.  there  was  only  one  other  person  seriously  hurt,  anil  that  un- 
happily a  young  and  distinguished  member  of  the  Mouse  of  I^ords. 
"We  regret  to  have  to  report  that  tlie  Earl  of  Tilbury,  who,  at  the 
moment,  was  driving  across  the  Circus  in  his  cab,  and  was  close  to 
the  scene  ol  the  explosion,  was,  owing  to  the  sudden  frenzy  of  his 
horse,  thrown  out  on  his  head,  and  we  learn,  from  inquiries  made 
at  the  last  moment,  is  still  lying  insensible  in  the  faniily  mansion  in 
Orosvenor  Place.  Sir  Alfred  Marks  and  Sir  Claude  Crarapton  were 
summoned  to  a  consullaiion  by  the  family  physician,  Doctor  W'il- 
hraham,  and  liave  remained  with  his  lordship  up  to  the  hour  of  our 

f:oing  to  press.     Vi'e  are  deeply  paine<l   to  learn  tliat  they  have 
ormed  a  very  unfavorable  opinion  of  the  case,  and  Lord  Tilbury's 
mother,  the  Countess  of  Tilbury,  has  been  summoned  from  Linton 


iv^ 


SSIOX. 

a,  .harged  with  the  fearful 
)U3ly  rwh'ceil  to  atoms, 
strophe  Imd  spread  through 
iring  the  SLuson,  coiisJiutcs 
ot  Oominons,  at  the  diauer- 
3(1  of:  it  wiiL.  bruited  about 
indents  of  tlie  wealtliy  quar- 
in,  Mayfair,  Bromptnu.  and 
hastily  iieaded  Iheir  reports, 
\iio  were  tlie  outragers  and 
nt,  beyond  the  unfortunate 
L'd,  the  editors  did  not  cvea 
till  next  inornins  that,  b» 
id  the  unwearied  prnters  ol 
.vliole  of  tlie  fo>ir  millions  of 
of  whft  had  liapp^iied,  and 
13  known  about  the  incident, 
lunt  ot   "The  Tliunderer," 
nform  the  reader  of  all  that 
lin  the  few  liours  which  in- 
1  ot  Thursday,  the  26th,  and 
h  instant. 

iderer.") 

:  past  four  o'clock,  there  oc- 
uost  uivsterlous  and  horrible 
o  clnonicii'  in  these  ooluinns. 
d  ot  pedeslriaue  of  all  classes, 
sriptlon,  a  loud  and  startling 
le  refuge  established  for  tlie 
center  ot  the  Circus.  The 
.  and  busy  multitude  which  18 
icially  during  the  season,  con-  • 

iidden  panic  seized  the  crowd, 
and  into  the  shops,  while  the 

the  vehicular  trafflc  beggars 

airent,  or  victim,  as  we  may 
ntiuently  blown  out  ot  exist- 

may  be  said  nothing  remains 
an  seriously  hurt,  and  that  un- 
>mber  of  the  House  of  Lords.  ■ 

Earl  of  Tilbury,  who,  at  the 
IS  in  his  cab,  and  was  close  to 
V  to  the  sudden  frenzy  of  his 
re  learn,  from  inquiries  made 
isiWe  in  the  family  mansion  in 
iind  Sir  Claude  Crampton  were 
amily  physician.  Doctor  Wil- 
lordship  up  to  the  hour  of  our 
ined  to  learn  that  they  have 
:  the  case,  and  Lord  Tilbury's 
i  been  summoned  from  Liutou 


A    AVEEIv    OF    PASSIOX. 


9 


to  het  sou's  bedsid".  >'o  sooner  had  the  crowd  begun  to  recover 
trom  the  terror  c::used  by  this  extraordinary  incident  than  it  was  ob- 
served that  no  other  damage  had  buen  done  thni  the  formal  on  of  a 
bli'dit  deprussion  iu  the  roadway  at  the  spot  where  the  victim  ot 
thi°s  horrible  death  was  standing,  and  the  incidental  injury  to  the 
tarl  ot  Tilburv,  whicli  is  in  itstlt  a  stdHciently  grave  matter.  1  he 
voung  C!irl  only  came  ot  ace  a. few  months  since,  but  his  dlstin- 
'■■uished  abilities,  his  rare  promise,  his  vast  wealth,  and  his  position 
?u  society,  will  cieale  au  -iety  on  his  bch  ■U  among  an  immense  c  r- 
ck  of  eiiiiuetit  Irieiida.  It  was  some  time  before  the  iwlice  on  the 
spot  could  lorm  any  consistent  theory  of  the  cause  of  the  accident. 
At  first  it  was  supposed  that  Lord  Tilbury  might  have  been  carry- 
lug  some  dynamite  cartridges  in  his  cab;  but  this  was  promptly  (  e- 
uied  Dy  his  tiger,  an  intelligent  young  man  named  Liglitbones,  wlio 
is  slated  to  have  behaved  with  reniarktble  coolness,  and  who  has 
given  the  police  the  most  important  informaliou  they  possess  as  to 
the  circumalauces  of  the  accident.  It  appears  that  the  Earl  of  Ill- 
bury  having  pulled  up  suddenly,  the  young  man,  Lidilhones,  peered 
rapidly  round  the  hooil  ot  the  cabriolet  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the 
delay.  At  that  instant  he  saw— only  for  a  brief  glance— a  short, 
square-built,  sientlemanly  looking  man,  clad  in  iome  dark  vest- 
ments the  color  ot  which  he  had  not  time  to  determine,  who  seemed 
to  be  hesitating  tor  a  moment  whether  to  cross  in  front  of  >he  horse 
alon<'side  an  omnibus  traveling  trom  east  to  west.  Lord  Tillmry, 
who  had  come  trom  Piccadilly,  was  going  up  Ke^eut  Street.  Light- 
bones  had  scarcely  set  eyes  on  this  individual,  when,  to  use  the  ex- 
pression ot  the  lad  himself,  '  he  exploded  all  to  pieces,  with  a  loud 
report  scattering  blood  and  minute  fragments  ot  his  body  all  aiounfl 
for  a  considerable  distance.  Uats.  coats,  parasols,  etc.,  received  a 
shower  of  this  dreadful  human  debm,  creating  a  very  vivid  Im- 
pression oi  horror  on  the  startled  crowd.  The  neck  and  breast 
ot  the  horse  Lord    Tilbury  was   driving  received   some  portion 

.  of  the  shower,  and  yet  tue  animal  was  not  even  singed  by  the 
explosion,  which  seems  to  have  gone  directly  upward,  and  not 
downward  or  sideways.  Singularly  enough,  however,  though 
the  ^e"B  anil  feet  and  boots  of  the  author  or  sufferer  of  the 
accident  have  entirely  disappeared,  along  with  tlie  rest  of  hi» 
body  the  trace  left  by  the  explosion  is  comparatively  slight,  the 
pavement  being  indented  to  the  depth  only  of  ten  inches,  to  a 
diameter  of  about  a  foot  or  sixteen  inclies.    At  the  moment  ot  the 

-  explosion  the  man  was  standing  between  the  head  of  Lord  Tilbuir  a 
hor«e  and  one  ot  the  omnibuses  ot  the  L.  G.  O.  Company  wh  ch 
runs  to  Netting  Hill,  being  about  equidistant  from  both;  biit  the 
force  ot  the  explosion  seems  to  have  been  rather  in  the  direction  ot 
Lord  Tilbuiy.  tor,  on  examination,  the  paneling  of  the  omnthus 

•  shows  few  signs  ot  its  proximity  to  the  dreadful  catastrophe, 
although  its  windows  were  tractured.  Hence  it  is  conjectured  tliat 
the  explosive  substance,  whatever  it  was,  was  placed  on  that  ^ide  of 
tlie  individual  which  was  nearest  to  his  lordship;  but  this  is  mere 
coniecture,  and,  in  the  opinion  of  some  theorists,  the  fact  is  taken 
10  prove  exactly  the  opposite  conclusion,  namely,  that  the  greatest 
force  of  the  explosion  was  exerted  in  the  direction  where  it  encount- 
ered the  greatest  resistance.    This,  and  otuer  interesting  problems 


m 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


arising  out  of  this  curious  and  mysterious  cnse,  will,  howevov,  wo 
are  iutormed,  be  submitted  to  Professor  Green  and  other  experts, 
and  will  doubtless  l)u  cleiired  up  in  the  inquiry  which  lias  been 
ordered  by  the  Home  Secretary,  who,  acfompaiiied  hf  the  Chief 
Commissioner  and  Mr.  Sontng,  head  of  tlie  Detective  Department, 
visilefd  and  inspected  the  spot  at  a  late  hour  last  ni^ht. 

■*  The  coroner  for  the  district,  Mr.  Waipole  t*amuel8on,  was  im- 
mediately notified  ot  the  occuirence,  but  we  understand  that  he  has 
considerable  doubt  as  to  his  power  to  open  an  inquest,  seeing  that 
the  destruction  of  the  subject  ot  the  catastrophe  was  so  complete 
that  there  is  not  even  a  remnant  for  a  coroner's  jury  to  sit  upon,  and 
consequently  no  means  whatever  of  identification.  Tlie  matter  has 
been  relerred  to  the  law-otHcers  of  the  Crown,  and  the  coioner  will 
bo  Riiided  l)y  their  decision,  which  will  probably  be  giVen  in  the 
course  of  to-day. 

"  It  adds  an  additional  trait  to  the  romantic  horror  and  mystery 
of  this  event  that,  up  to  the  hour  of  going  to  press,  the  police  have 
been  totally  unable  to  discover  any  trace  or  clew  to  the  identity  of 
the  person  who  has  met  his  tale  in  this  strange  manner,  or  to  the 
perpetrators,  if  any,  of  the  outrage.  No  one  appears  to  have  no- 
ticed the  defunct  except  the  lad  Lighlbones.  A  Yorkshire  gentle- 
man, who  has  given  his  name  and  address  to  the  police,  and  who 
had  his  coat,  waistcoat,  and  shirt  spattered  with  the  remains  of  the 
deceased,  states  that  though  he  was  near  the  spot,  and  felt  the  shock 
of  the  explosion,  he  had  not  noticed  any  one  in  liis  vicinity  answer- 
ing to  the  ilescrii)tion  given  by  Lord  Tilbury's  servant.  No  one  has 
as  yet  come  forward  to  reclaim  a  lost  relative,  but  possibly,  during 
the  day,  the  publicity  given  through  our  columns  (sic*)  may  lead  to 
some  communication  being  made  to  the  police  which  will  give  them 
a  clew.  Meantime  all  is  buiied  in  pure  conjecture.  The  flrst  idea 
of  the  police  authorities  was  that  the  Fenians  were  concerned  in  the 
outrage.  But  the  incident  is  too  strange  and  unique  to  admit  of 
such  an  explanation.  The  Fenians  have  not  yet  shown  any  dispo- 
sition to  risk  their  own  lives  in  their  wild  and  wicked  efiforts  to 
alarm  society  and  mystify  the  autliorities.  bupposing  the  individual 
to  have  been  a  J'enian  carrying  a  machine  to  be  used  for  the  nefari- 
ous object  ot  frightening  the  English  public,  it  is  quite  conceivable 
that  it  might  have  prematurely  exploded,  but  it  may  be  presumed 
that  It  would  have  been  charged  with  a  much  greater  force  than 
was  sufficient  to  blow  only  one  human  being  to  atoms.  A  far  more 
plausible  theory  is  that  some  chemist  or  mining  engineer  may  have 
been  carrying  in  his  pocket  a  small  quantity  of  nitroglycerine  or  a 
dynamite  cartridge,  for  experiment,  and  have  become  ihe  victim  ot 
his  toolunrdy  carelessness.  However  it  may  be,  the  affair  is  one  of 
the  most  mysterious  than  has  ever  tested  the  detective  capacity  of 
our  police,  and  their  inquiries  and  investigations  will  be  followed 
by  the  public  with  feverish  interest." 

"  The  Thunderer  "  also  published  "  Another  Account  by  an  Eye- 
witness," who,  as  it  turned  out,  had  seen  nothing  ot  any  conte- 

*  "  The  Thunderer  "  never  acknowledges  the  existence  of  anj-  otlier  means  of 
publicity. 


ON. 

I  cnse,  will,  howevni ,  wo 
3reen  antl  other  experts, 
inquiry  which  has  been 
'onipanied  hy  tao  Chief 
c  Detective  Department, 
r  last  uifiht. 

)ole  t*ainuel8on,  was  im- 
e  understand  that  he  has 
)  an  inquest,  seeing  that 
itrophe  was  so  complete 
er'a  jury  to  sit  upon,  and 
ication.  The  matter  has 
wn,  and  the  coioner  will 
obably  be  giVen  in  rhe 

intic  horror  and  mystery 
to  press,  the  police  have 
ir  clew  to  the  identity  of 
trange  manner,  or  to  the 
one  appears  to  have  no- 
E.  A  Yorkshire  geutle- 
is  to  the  police,  and  who 
I  with  the  remains  of  the 
I  spot,  and  felt  the  shock 
le  in  liis  vicinity  nnswer- 
y's  servant.  No  one  has 
ve,  but  possibly,  during 
lunins  (sic*)  may  lead  lo 
ice  which  will  give  them 
njecture.  The  flrst  idea 
as  were  concerned  in  the 
and  unique  to  admit  of 
ot  yet  shown  any  dispo- 
Id  and  wicked  efforts  to 
supposing  the  individual 
0  be  used  for  the  nefari- 
c,  it  is  quite  conceivable 
but  it  may  be  presumed 
nuch  greater  force  than 
g  to  atoms.  A  far  more 
ning  engineer  may  have 
y  of  nitroglycerine  or  a 
ve  become  the  victim  ot 
5"  be,  the  affair  is  one  of 
he  detective  capacity  of 
rations  will  be  followed 


her  Account  by  an  Eye- 
1  nothing  ot  any  conte- 

tence  of  anj-  other  means  of 


A    WEEK    or    PASSIOX. 


11 


nuence,  but  who  was  al,le  to  say  so  with  a  cerlain  graphic  apparatus 
of  suggestion  which  hail  struck  the  editor,  and  several  Idlers  from 
persons  who  were  more  or  less  near  the  scene  ot  the  rntuslrophe 
when  it  occuncd;  also  one  letter  from  an  enterprising  iradesmau  In 
Piccadilly,  who,  glvins:  liis  name  and  address,  declared  that  he  had 
telt  the  sh()(k  of  the  explosion  in  his  shop,  and  that  his  watch  had 
stopped  at  the  precise  moment  ot  the  catastrophe. 

There  is  nothing  London  loves  so  much  as  a  mystery,  and  this 
was  one  ot  a  novel  and  romantic  order.  1  he  excitement  among  all 
circles  increased  during  the  whole  of  the  27lh  of  June,  and  arrived 
at  an  intense  pilch  when  an  evening  journal  issued  a  "  sptcml, 
staling  Ihnt  a  single  trace  had  been  found  of  the  chief  actor  m  this 
horrible  tragedy.  A  i>holographer'8  assistant,  in  arranging  the 
blinds  of  his  studio  at  midday,  to  reduce  the  brilliancy  ot  the  .ight 
tor  a  lady  ot  a  certain  age,  who  was  sitting  tor  her  portrait,  had 
discovered,  Iving  on  the  ledge  ot  a  window  at  the  top  of  the  house, 
which  was  situated  in  Oxford  htteet,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  from  the  scene  ot  the  explosion,  a  human  hand,  bearing  evi- 
dence ot  having  been  violently  torn  from  the  wrist  ot  its  proprietor, 
and  Ihe  police  now  had  in  their  possession  a  valuable,  it  imperfect, 
clew  to  the  identity  of  the  deceased  The  hand  was  a  right  hand, 
apwaring  to  have  been  that  of  a  muscular  man  of  past  the  middle 
age  who,  however,  was  not  accustomed  to  manual  labor.  It  was 
sprinkled  on  the  back  with  line  hairs,  had  no  ring  on  the  fi^er, 
but  exhibited  one  important  peculiarity.  The  upper  joint  ot  the 
little  finger  was  bent,  as  if  that  joint  had  once  been  broken.  Ob 
submilting  the  hand,  however,  to  the  inspection  of  eminent  surgeons, 
they  gave  it  as  their  opinion  Ihct  this  slight  deformity,  which  would 
liave  passed  almost  unnoticed  when  the  owner  was  living,  and  kept 
the  band  closed  or  in  movement,  was  congenital.  ,    „  ., 

The  excitement  now  rose  to  the  i^>'  power.  The  roofs  of  all  the 
nouses  within  a  mile  ot  the  Circus  wore  searched  in  Ihe  hope  of 
discoveiing  other  relics  of  the  mysterious  unknown.  Scotland  Yard 
was  inundated  with  articles  gathered  on  the  housetops,  embracing 
every  variety  of  rejected  rubbish,  like  old  toolh-brushes,  broken 
spectacles,  remnants  ot  worn-out  boots,  plecesof  whalebone,  broken 
combs,  and  ragged  pieces  ot  clothing,  an  intlnily  ot  things  which  it 
could  be  seen  at  a  glance  were  the  casual  jetsam  of  the  dwellers  Jn 
the  house-tops  of  London,  and  in  no  way  whatever  connected  with 
the  individual  whose  ghastly  and  original  exit  from  London  society 
bad  created  such  a  sensation. 


!    ;     ^i.r  ,;  CHAPTER  n.  :  ^  v    -, 

'     -    '         '  '  AT  THE  HOME  OFFICE.  ,.      '     " 

Then  happened  something  which  always  happens  m  London  when 
the  identity  of  those  who  have  perished  by  crime  or  disaster  is  a 
matter  ot  doubt:  a  thing  which  affords  the  police  and  every  reflect- 
ing man  so  much  to  think  ot  regiuding  the  hidden  history  of  that 
great  ocean  of  humanity,  the  English  metropolis.  No  less  than 
Uiirteen  persons  of  the  male  sex  were,  within  the  next  two  days. 


n 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOK. 


si"nnli7.e(l  to  the  police  by  nnxious  lelnlives  or  officious  fritiids  as 
niissiiiii  aa  answeriiiE;  more  or  less  correctly  to  tiie  iiieuser  dti'crip- 
tioii  "-iveii  bv  Li<>litl)out'8  ot  Ihemiin  he  hiui  seeu;  and  some  of  Ihum 
as  ha'Ving  a  ■(letoriully  or  the  liUle  finger  of  the  risiht  'mud!  It  is 
impossible  to  form  any  theory  about  such  ii  singular  mania.  l)ut 
there  is  no  doubt  that  persons  exist,  ot  wcnk  iutellecis  and  a  perverse, 
TU'llyconceit,  who,  iu  default  of  any  other  means  of  acquiiing  a 
temporary  notoriety,  will  try  to  gain  a  laciitious  iraporlauce  by  as- 
sociatin"  themselves  or  their  friends  with  some  sensational  drama. 
Theyliave  lost  a  relotive  or  a  trieud;  they  wish  to  put  themselves 
jn  evidence,  before  the  gveatCBt  possible  number  ot  people,  as  being- 
connected  in  some  way,  however  remotely,  with  that  about  which 
oil  the  world  is  talking.  They  are  pertectly  aware  from  the  first  ibat 
the  victim  or  the  sullerer  is  not  the  person  in  whom  they  are  iiiier- 
ested  but  that  is  of  no  consequence.  If  they  can,  only  lor  a  tew 
days 'pose  as  relatives  or  connections  ot  any  one  whom  crime  or 
accident  has  made  notorious,  it  they  can  only  uet  the  whole  ma- 
chinery ot  justice  set  a-going  for  a  short  time  at  their  instance,  they 
fancy  that  they  have  acquired  a  certain  importance  in  the  eyes  ot 
their  friends.  To  do  this,  they  will  even  stretch  a  point  and  mako 
false  statements  about  dress  and  appearance.  They  are  able  ever 
afterwaid  to  say  something  like  this— 

"  You  remember  the  fellow  that  blew  up  in  Regent  Circus?  Well, 
vou  know  my  aunt's  husband's  eldest  son  by  Ids  first  wife,  who 
was  a  clerk  at  Batty  &  Levisou's,  in  the  City,  disappeared  only  a 
week  betortf  the  occurrence.  The  moment  1  r<!ad  of  it  in  the 
papers  1  saiii  to  myself—'  That  was  .Toe  Jackson.'  Joe  was  only 
five  teet  six,  and  always  dressed  in  dark  clothes.  Well,  sir,  1  went 
to  Scotland  Yard  and  saw  the  police.  Then  1  was  introducetl  to 
Mr  Sontag,  ot  the  Detective  Department.  Then  1  had  a  corre- 
spondence with  the  chief  commissioner.  They  laughed  at  me,  sir, 
and  were  most  impertinent.  And  then  1  complained  ot  the  conduct 
ot  the  police  to  the  Home  Secretary.  Yes,  sir.  1  wrote  a  letter  my- 
self to  the  Home  Secretary.  1  received  a  reply  from  his  secietpry. 
See  here  it  is  "—he  produces  it  tor  the  thousandth  time  from  his 
pocket  "  '  Sir  1  am  directed  by  the  Home  Secretary  to  acknowl- 
edfte  receipt  of  your  letter  ot  the  lOtli  instant,  relating  to  the  con- 
duct of  the  police  in  regard  to  the  disappearance  ot  Mr.  Joseph 
Jackson,  and  to  state  that  the  matter  has  been  referred  to  the  Chief 
Commissioner  of  Police  for  explanations.' " 
"  Did  you  ever  get  the  explanations?" 

'•  No  Joe  turned  up  in  Buenos  Ayres;  he  had  run  away  with  a 
hunared  pounds.  But  1  tell  you,  sir,  it  ever  1  have  occasion  to  go 
to  Scotland  Yard  again,  they'll  know  who  they  have  to  deal  with. 
The  Home  Secretary  must  have  given  them  an  awful  wiggingl" 

Thus  a  conceited  tool  is  able  to  waste  the  lime  and  tax  the  ener- 
gies of  a  grejit  depart  ment,  and  would  rather  Lave  been  kicked  down 
the  stairs  ot  the  Home  Office  than  be  unable  to  say  that  he  had  been 
there. 

Often  the  relatives  ot  some  man  who  has  disappeared  will  exhibit 
the  most  exasperating  anxiety  to  identify  him  with  some  discovered 
body  which  he  did"not  remotely  resemble,  and  will  insist  upon  their 


-q'^:;^i!Wfe!fy'^»?**!:>^ 


ift^^'.'.^ 


ibit        \ 
red         I 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION'. 


13 


lOK. 

,'es  or  offlciouB  friends  fis 
ly  to  tiiu  meager  discrip- 
i  seen;  and  some  of  Ilium 
of  llie  riclit  'mud!  It  is 
i\\  II  singular  niiiuiii,  l)ut 
k  iutellecis  and  ii  perverse, 
lier  uieutis  of  acqtiiiing  ii 
;iilioiis  iniporliiucu  by  lis- 
some sensational  drrtiiia. 
[iV  wish  to  put  themselves 
iinlierot  people,  as  being 
,  with  tbat  about  wiiieh 
y  aware  troni  the  first  lb  at 
!\  in  wiioni  they  are  iiiier- 
they  can,  only  for  a  tew 
anyone  wlioni  crime  or 
n  only  uet  the  whole  ma- 
ime  i\i  their  instance,  they 
iniporlance  in  the  eyes  of 
stretch  a  point  and  make 
nee.    They  are  able  ever 

pin  Regent  Circus?  Well, 
n  by  his  lirst  wife,  who 

City,  disappeared  only  a 
iieut  1  read  of  it  in  the 
Jackson.'  Joe  was  only 
jlolhes.  "^A'cll,  sir,  1  went 
rUen  1  was  introduced  to 
jt.     Then  1  had  a  corre- 

They  laughed  at  me,  sir, 
loinplained  of  the  conduct 
?,  sir.  1  wrote  a  letter  my- 
i  reply  from  his  secietpry. 
thousandth  time  from  his 
jme  Secretary  to  acknowl- 
astant,  relating  to  the  con- 
ippearance  of  Mr.  Joseph 
3  been  referred  to  the  Chief 


!;  he  bad  run  away  with  a 
sver  1  have  occasion  to  go 
lO  they  have  to  deal  with. 
3in  an  awful  wigglngi" 
the  lime  and  tax  the  ener- 
hei  Lave  been  kicked  down 
ble  to  say  that  he  had  been 

las  disappeared  will  exhibit 
r  him  with  some  discovered 
d,  and  will  insist  upon  their 


dismal  fancy  In  the  face  of  patent  impossibt  i  les.  Altogether  tit 
policeniaM,  out  of  comic  operas,  may  siug,  will,  a  good  deal  of  dole- 
ful emi.lmsis,  that  in  reality  his  "  lot  is  not  a  Imppy  one!  When 
en.'a.'ed  in  the  pursuit  of  a  criminal  he  not  only  has  to  meet  and 
comuerael  all  the  wiles  and  tricks  pt  confederates  but  ^^U  being 
oontiiiuallv  hampered  by  the  children  and  mibec  les  who  throw 
Ihe.nselves  betwtU  his  legs.  Crofrs  of  idle  suggestions  a  id  foolUh 
coniuelurc'S,  of  feeble  criticisms  and  commo.iplace  co'insels,  spring- 
mi,'  from  ..onceiled  and  ignorant  brains  are  harvesied  and  delivered 
i,n,n-^  1.1  Scotland  Yard;  and  abuse,  which  is  severe  in  <l'fi  iuvcrse 
ratio  ot  the  abuser's  competence  to  pronounce  an  opinion  is  otteu 
showered  ,town  on  '•  BobbV's"  devoted  head.  I'«  '''\l''<  /[^^''Ss-'' 
a  humbu^,  and  summarily  eiected  from  bco  and  ^' "^^ '^«  .'^"fj^- 
body  rushes  to  the  press,  and  the  groiming  editor,  fe?'J«l»  "S '"» 'f,^''i' 
Jams  down  whole  sheaves  of  foolish  scribblings  in  o  his  pverbur- 
deuea  waste-paper  b.isket.  He  can  b.-ar  vyitness  at  all  events,  tl^at  a 
time  of  sensation  has  a  fatal  influence  in  developing  the  pestilent 
activity  of  all  the  idiots. 

A  fair  proporthm  ot  the  cases  reported  to  the  police  in  the  present 
instance  were  no  do.ibl  to  be  attributed  to  the  egregious  and  ... is- 
chievous  aelivily  of  some  such  persons  as  we  have  designated,  b  it, 
after  makin-  every  allowance,  a  sutlicieut  number  ot  apparenlly 
authentic  ca-ses  were  left  to  make  one  shudder  at  the  extent  ot  the 
unknown   unsuspected,  and  uudiseovered  crimes  ot  London  lite. 

The  Home  Secretary  and  tne  Chief  Commissioner  of  Police  both 
of  whom  took  n  keen  interest  in  this  case,  because  ot  its  novelty  and 
honor,  were  distract  .1  with  vexation  and  despair  at  the  complica- 
tions introduced  by  all  these  cases  into  the  problem  tliey  were  en- 
de.  vorin.r  to  solve.  They  were  for  the  hundredth  time  appalled  at 
the  vastnt.s8  of  the  mystery  of  London  crime,  and  the  inadequacy 
of  thersmall  organization!  inf. ice  of  the  colossal  task  of  thesurveil- 
lance  of  four  millions  of  people,  whom  science  and  clviiizalioa 
were  everv  day  furnishing  with  fresh  weapons  for  crime  and  iu- 
weased  facilities  for  escaping  detection.  The  leading  journal  was 
some  mf  ago  congratulating  the  age  on  the  fact  that  ,i  was  becom^ 
inkmore  and  more  dilflcult  for  the  criminal  to  slip  from  the  hands 
of  justice.  That  is  probably  true  in  cases  where  the  crime  and  the 
criminal  are  known,  and  it  is  only  a  quest  on  ot  verifying  the  tacta 

0  the  one.  and  of  detecting  and  catching  the  other  B"';»^of  .^l^" 
thou-httully  study  the  crimes  that  do  come  to  light,  or  the  lurid 
flashes  that  are  sometimes  emitted  by  casual  circumstance  in  crim- 
inal investigations  or  death-bed  confessions,  will  be  convinced  that 
there  are  vast  catacombs  ol  underground  crime  which  are  Meyer  il- 

1  mined  even  by  the  taper  of  jus.ice,  and  still  less  laid  bare  to  the 
sunlight  ot  publicity.  If  our  "book-by  showinir  how  conceivable 
it  is  without  anv  violation  of  probabilities,  in  the  present  state  of 
science  and  orgiinlzation  ot  society,  that  great  crimes  may  be  com- 
r^Uted  with  a  reasonable  possibility  of  escaping  detection-should 
^ly  help  to  excite  attention  to  a  secret  and  treniendous  peril  wh.cli 
underruns  our  complicated  civilization,  we  sha  1  not  grudge  our 
critics  the  pleasure  of  discrediting  it  as  a  work  ot  «ri. 

At  the  Home  Office  the  minister,  the  chief  commissioner,  and  the 


■  ■M 


14 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


bad'bTen!  tor  thcTwentielb  time.  examluiuK  it  through  his  lar^e  gold 
^*^t' woulil  L'ive  "  he  said,  with  a  sort  ot  sigh,  as  he  took  off  his 

s:!urtrpi:p^nnToierit;'ot'^^ 

etr^;TnST.s^^^^^^^^^^ 
^Mcj^iSs;^^=Ki& 
uri^r 'r^ori£  :^^^:r  ^t.:»r  ^ 

r  eminS;'iractical  and  CM  -t  ^^Pjecn^Je  -V  .|.  y  the 
H.'^rsre'^oTcrrore^rl;^!^^^^^^^  ap^ared^to  accept  it  with  he- 
^Ti?S;«?Pf,f3^jrt  ••  Bir  Walter  Grandison.  I  li»ve  never  heard  of 

^Vi°"i'n.l^Vf  thn  Detpctive  Department  was  sitting  a  little  apart. 

baud,  lie  ™Y,,Triffh  eve  twiniiling  the  while  in  a  cunning 
and  <^«'"P»^f  "'3;"L^f  if''  /  gS  emen^would  leave  it  to  n.e.  and 
Xr  a  good  sound'reward.'l  sh'ould  soon  unravel  the  '  mystery.'  as 

•"'  nhlnt^"Slci  S^'t'ulte^  Grandison.  in  reply  to  the  commis; 
'"'^^k^e'^:^eZ7i^^^  to  be  elaborating  a  leading  article  tor 

.  we  l,«Heve  the  njore  co,;r«ct  tme^ot^^^^^^^^ 
inal  Investigation  Office;"  but  we  <lo  "P^  a{''^^^!|^a  i,y  the  e"haracter  or  details 
and  OS  the  main  P"^f«  "*  ^''i^'^^^'ot'  f  i^atS  a^  ideal  than  a  real  cne,  in 
'^r .?^l;^c.s^^.":aps^o"«"n|  mo'^e  what  it  ought  to  be  than  what  It .. 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOK. 


IS 


In  conclnvs  on  tho 
en  twenty  and  thirty 
mantel-piece  stood  a 
lould  be  discerned  a 
,  depending  Irom  ibe 
The  Home  Secre- 
ctics  is  filiorl -sighted, 
hrough  his  lar^e  gold 

h,  as  he  tooli  off  his 
I  thouBiuid  pounds  to 
e  continued,  turniuc 
which  were  haljitual 
leury,  of  one  ot  Uie 
stnriled  tlie  nerves  of 

30." 

in,  was  a  lover  and  an 
lus  of  u  man  ot  busi- 
er pliilosopher.  He 
;iuto  very  highly  the 
The  statement,  how- 
1  to  accept  it  with  be- 

l  hftve  never  heard  of 
ind  letters  only  make 
lave  read  them— what 

8  sitting  a  little  apart, 
i,  his  elbow  resting  on 
»und  on  the  flat  of  the 
iir  ot  mingled  respect 
le  while  in  a  cunning 
uld  leave  it  to  me,  and 
ravel  the  '  mystery,'  as 

reply  to  the  commis- 
,he  State  ot  Denmarli.' 
enomeual,  and  signlfl- 
iholy  reflection  on  our 

ing  a  leading  article  tor 

himself.  To  the  Home 
Qdlson,  but.  with  your 
iwyer  and  Home  Secre- 

ean  have  i  formed  any 
ome  of  them  appear  to 

nary  is  "  Chief  of  the  Crira- 
ot  these  portraits  from  life, 
I  by  the  character  or  details 
r  an  ideal  than  a  real  c  ue,  in 
to  be  than  what  it  is. 


he  eenuine,  some  to  be  hoaxes.  One  or  two  ot  them  scetn  to  fuggest 
Sne^s  ofiiivcstigation  which  it  would  be  worth  our  while  to  tollow 
up;  but.  on  tbi  other  hand,  one  hardly  knows  where  to  beg  n-  1' 
these  papers  .ire  to  be  believed  In,  we  are  asked  to  clear  "P '^  ^of^» 
private  roma.ices.  Wo  have  neLher  time  nor  money  to  waste  m 
frivolous  iniiuiries.  la  there  any  one  of  these  cases,  which,  i"  yo"' 
opinion,  points  more  suggestively  than  the  rest  to  an  answer  to  our 

*"'••  I'cJn  hardly  say  that.  Sir  Walter  ^^tl  have  gone  thr^gh  them 
Willi  some  piiins,  ami  have  analyzed  them  carefully.  Some,  aa  you 
ffr  w'  are  letters,  some  arc  reports  which  have  been  taken  dow..  at 
Scolaid  \  ardor  other  police-stations,  from  the  mouths  ot  peoplo 
com  ng  forward  with  intormalion-as  usiml.  these  statenienU  «™ 
mostly  Illusory  on  the  face  of  them,  and  of  no  value.  Many  stupid 
J^ople  have  a  morbid  desire  to  mix  themselves  "P  >°"i«""»;  "  J"  Iv 
Lotliers  of  these  statements  are  anonymous.  And  one  natiirally 
nuestions  the  good  faith  of  anonymous  communications  Ihey 
Kcnerally  proceed  from  two  classes-confederates  or  imbeciles-lho 
fatter  prcnonderating.  Vet,  now  and  then  an  anonymous  commu- 
nication may  be  worth  attention.  One  can  readily  conceive  tha 
K  may  be  personal  or  family  reasons  why  the  writers  do  not  wish 
to  be  known.  There  are  others  which  are  obvious  hoaxes.  It  is 
hardlv  credible,  but  it  Is  true,  that  there  is  a  class  o  persons  so  low 
and  b>ue  n  their  moral  sentiments  as  to  fancy  It  Is  a  clever  or 
humorous  hing  to  hoax  the  police.  Two  or  three  come  from  the 
clubs  from  idle  men,  who,  1  believe,  abound  there--you  know 
probably  more  about  that  than  1  do-"  The  min  ster  bowed  with 
a  smilMor  he  was  a  member  of  the  Whig  Clnb-"  They  are  our  od 
friends  the  officers  of  tho  army,  who  seem  to  l^''^  "°  »"°«^;^"«^ '^ 
do  than  to  write  ridiculous  letters  to  every  department  of  ^tnt«.  and 
totheuublic  press,  wheuever  anything  happens  about  which  tliey 
hink  they  know  something.  This  one.  for  instance,  from  a  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel  Smith,  a  retire<l  Indian  officer,  dated  from  Bermond- 
se^  Where  he  seems  to  be  hiding  his  laurels  on  half-pay  or  a  pension. 

"  '^'Sirbe 'oTsomnSst  to  the  police,  and  may  possibly  give 
them  some  clew  to  the  mystery  of  the  fiegent  Circus,  to   earn  ttat 
on  U.e  morning  of  Thursday,  the  26th  Inst,   at  twenty  minutes  p.«t 
nine  in  the  morning,  1  took  the  omnibus  from  Grange  Itoad.  Ber- 

mondsey,  tor  the  BaAk  of  England,  In  <>V»f  »° ''"^"t^X'l  "11  a 
The  People's  Cooked  Meat  Company.  Limited,  of  which  1  am  a 
director  and  that  1  distinctly  noticed  sitting  opposite  to  me  a  short 
stout  man  apparently  of  about  fltty  or  flfty-flve  years  ot  age,  of  florid 
compSn?and  clad  in  a  suit  ot  Justy  black,  llils  "un  attracted 
my  attention  by  the  singularity  of  his  manner,  ^e  was  breathing 
heavily,  as  if  he  had  been  running,  and  he  wiped  h  s  head  wl  ch 
was  nekily  bald,  with  an  old  bandana  pocket-handkerch  el.  such 
as  one  wal  accustomed  to  see  used  by  military  men  ""^  l"»^,'a|7hen 
serving  the  East  India  Company,  or  the  Government  of  l"d'a.  »»  1 
have  had  the  honor  to  do  tor  nearly  forty  years^navlng  joined  the 
company's  service  at  the  early  age  of  twenty  His  ag'^tetl  manner 
led  me  to  watch  him  closely.and  1  overl.eard  him  f.^V  to  his  neigh- 
bor  who  appeared  to  be  a  friend  (or  coufedentte),     1  had  a  narrow 


se 


A    WF.KK    OF    PASSION. 


color,  and  Ills  muc  ""b^-r  ""'^      Arrivi'd  nt  the  Maus  on  House,  lie 
cteclpllo.,.  1  have  '»''»''»"  tr,  ;■;,",,      »  or,..-,  u.ull 

session  ot  the  police,  iiiul  1  m.ij .  '|  t'^^  ^''^lo  ^^       ,  ,     ,     („,,,.,. 

SriJ'K'f  le^v'r^  ^i"at"ASiv,u^^         hissu^all  eyes 
u,ejn  Jr  one  or  t.^  s.ruc.  -  v^  foruW^^^  ^^  ^,,,,,,,,,,,  ot  n,y 

missins,  ot  whom  three  "'«  «^'''^J^*f;^'^f  ven^thaf  is  «r.  incredible 
six  a  detorniity  of  tl**!  1'" le  ftnger  ^/«f  ^^^,  ,„  j^.^^.g  become 
number  when  we  ^0°"^"  il  a   they  are  ueu«r«  ^^^^^^ 

missing  within  the  past    ^S^,  ami  that  t^^^^^^  ^P  ^  ^^. 

In  the  population  '[i"»„t  «  "SoVo  nuSer  oi  one  fitth  ot  one  per 
nute  traction.  sav%ut  a  guess  not  one  quant  millions. 

cent.  But  a<lmU  ""f/'f^/'i'^^./^^acl-^r  twenty  thousand  per- 
that  would  be  one  hiiltottortjiuousam  j     tortni-ht,  or 


A     WF.KK    OK     I'A!>SI<)X. 


n 


undfl,"  or  words  to 
the  Citv,  vrUich  1 
to  ReKui"  Circus. 
we  nrrlveil  i     Kiug 
1  old  porlcmonniiie, 
il  coppiv  cnins,  and 
star,  with  Ids  lifrht. 
Ithhiiii'sof  iiu'dilisli 
ut.  Iroin  Ihe  oUiers, 
Mausiou  House,  lie 
vn  Loinl)iird  s^tifci. 
ihSiiiin')  ••  l'\'e  Ave 
wn  mind,  lioiii  llie 
,t  Una  wiia  llm  very 
in  the  circus,  and  1 
n  Bermonilncy  as  to 
vcn  is  luissiiiir  irom 
,w  lliclmnd  I  slioulU 
my  omnilius  fare  is 
iiand  now  in  thepos- 
inie,  hP  uMe  to  give 
in  winch  the  in([Uiry 
ins  in  India  assisted 
,  in  his  invest iual ions 
eeived  the  thanks  of 

ving  the  letter  ou  the 
,  that  have  emanated 
oihins;  to  do,  and  no 

he  detectives  giinned, 
y  operation,  of  which 

g. 


and  his  small  eyes 


iR  his  large  shoulders, 
ions  than  that.     1  re- 

n  continuation  ot  my 
ilearly  »>verlap  one  an- 
are  quite  apocryphal, 
ne  thirteen  persons  are 
^er-joinU  injured,  and 

that  is  an  incredilile 
iilareil  to  have  become 
the  number  o£  persona 
r-joiuts  must  be  a  mi- 
•  or  one  fltlh  ot  oms  iier 
,  out  of  four  millions, 

twenty  thousand  per- 
)ear  in  a  iortni-.'ht.  or 
;tly  7  decimal  80  in  the 
1  causes,  tor  the  entire 
'ou  see  it  is  impossible. 


nn(l.ycl  these  iieojile  who  send  us  the  intormation  appear  to  lu'  i|uite 
sincere,  giving  minute  iiarticulars,  names,  addresses,  ages,  descrip- 
tion, and  so  on."  ■  ,    „     .   JO..       I     . 

••Have  you  made  any  Inquiries  at  tUe  places  indicated?  asUed 
th(^  minister.  .... 

"  .N'ot  vt!t,  at  all  of  them,  but  the  police  report— do  they  not. 
.*iontag'/-^that  four  ot  the  cases  appear  to  be  authentic' 

••  they  do.  Sir  llenrv,"  answered  tiie  detective,  shutting  Ids 
mouth  up  sharp  i.Iler  leliim:  out  these  words,  as  it  he  were  apiirc- 
liensive  lest  olhois  should  run  out  of  it,  us  the  sliot  used  to  do  out  of 
the  old-fashioned  shot-belts,  imless  they  were  ciinidngly  handled. 

"  Hum!"  said  the  Home  Secretary.     "  It  is  very  odd!" 

The  chief  detective  shitteil  in  his  chair  and  changed  legs,  and 
with  a  pieliminary  "  hem!"  to  nltiucl  the  atleution  of  his  superioi, 
he  said:  „  .    ,  ... 

"  Has  It  occurred  to  you,  Mr  Secretary  and  Commissioner,  that 
perhaps  some  of  these  letters  were  written  e.vpnssly  to  throw  u-i  off 

the  track?"  .        ,     ,    i  , 

Ihe  Home  Secretary,  struck  by  the  observation,  looked  round 
sharply,  first  at  the  detective  and  then  at  the  chief  commissioner. 

"  or  course  that  too  has  occurred  lo  me,"  said  Sir  Henry.  "  It 
is  so  old  a  trick.  But  just  think  how  wide  and  in:poitant  a  com- 
bination would  be  needed  to  carry  out  a  plot  for  ndsleadintr  us  in 
tlve  or  six  different  cases,  by  a  new  and  dillercnt  lictiou  each  time! 
AVe  are  a-reed  in  discarding  the  notion  tliat  Feuianism  has  played 
aiiv  part  u\  this  dri  ma.  and  1  can  conceive  of  no  other  organization 
wbicli  could  command  either  the  resources  or  the  machinery  for 
such  a  plot."  ,  ,.     ^^     .        .,  _, . 

'•  1  am  not  so  sure,  Mr.  Commissioner,"  said  Mr.  bontag.  TI118 
is  a  very  curious,  profound,  and  ingenious  prol)lem.  1  can  not 
brmg  myself  to  believe  that  this  is  a  case  ot  suiciile.  It  is  hardly 
conceivable  that  any  one  contemplating  suicide  would  be  so  diabolical 
as  to  corcmit  it  in  this  fashion,  in  the  middle  of  a  crowd,  where  the 
lives  ot  many  other  persons  might  Lave  been  sacriOced  along  with 

his  own."  .,.     ,    ,  ,,       ,  ,  » 

"  But  it  could  scarcely  have  been  a  murder!     cried  the  minister. 
"  There  is  not  a  tittle  ot  evidence  that  any  one  in  the  crowd  threw 
"  u  cartridge  or  bomb  in  that  neighborhood.    Besides,  the  person  who 
did  it  would  himself  have  run  considerable  risk." 

"True  Mr.  Secretary,"  replied  Mr.  8ontag,  "  I  have  put  that 
aside  as  Impossible.  Moreover,  the  statement  ot  the  lad  Lightbones 
is  clearly  against  it,  as  well  as  the  other  circumstances.  The  man 
seems  to  have  blown  up  spontaneously  r.om  within.  Now,  no  one 
ever  heard  of  gases  being  generated  in  the  liuman  system  of  suffi- 
cient force  to  "produce  this  explosion.  The  man  must  have  been 
carrying  the  explosive  on  hts  person— probably  in  his  coat  or  trou- 
sers pocket."  „  .^  , 

'•Precisely.  Then  he  knew  It  was  there.  You  can  t  escape  from 
that  conclusion.  Well,  then,  he  was  either  carryinsr  it  innocently  or 
with  some  criminal  intention.  He  was  going  to  try  some  experiment 
or  commit  some  crime— in  which  1  include  suicide.  It  his  intentions 
were  innocent,  then  it  is  a  case  of  involuntary  suicide.  He  has  piiu- 
ished  himself  for  his  carelessness  and  a  breiich  of  the  law.    It  witb 


18 


A    WKKK     OF    I'ASSION. 


>ife 


trliinipliiint  smile.  gnucezo  for  a  tnorrcnt,  ns  it 

.hi 'h';r.re  ;;i..^earhJt  to  .UiC.  you  .m  .o.«ivc  .ne  fo.  re. 
call'mn  your  atlentlou?  ' 

"  \^  Iml'.'"  n.n  nviilriKlvp  on  Ills  person  without 

..;S  ;r"YrMr  u  aS.  !;;^"£i-i'^.u  ...t ...  i.npo... 

"^'•■000.1  ^'raciouB.  Sont.g!"  put  In  the  diiet  cpu^missioner.  •'  that 
,,  ,S.H.^r  ..e,.nu  Uu,  hoiuulB  o   pn^^^^^         ^^  ,  ,^  ,,,  „„, 

.;;,S  i::'ln^:..u!^sl  ;a^nt...u..  ,.ot  tos,--;^^.;  w;y -- 

nuu.  who  wa«  "''''"^'''l't;;*ru        .       o^   JeS    tteutio.',  Irom  the 

''!if  ^'Z ^:::: rwilr^olf^KS^^  .hat  there  was 
"il'^rC'^li'olS'moSt^oryou  pn^sihly  conceive  of  for  such 
an  infernal  pblV  i"H')|.f«;}  J''j;;';;;«,;^[.- „  rte.crtivcB  are  very  cau- 

to  vour  question  thus:  J^'^'';"  .'^,^^"  "'fj  •^s,,i,,,,  to  net  ri.l  of  this 
or  •family.  I'f ,"  f'^^'J^llf  n^^  Z^  dev"  n-Uliahollcal  ingenuity 
nmu.  ami  a  plot  ^ '  f  "  /'J^  /  ,•-  as  lornua  1o  deslroy  him.  in  such 
we  have  ever  hail  to  t'*^"' ^''    ?^, ': '     ,  „„,u.r  such  coinliiions.that 

l„r;l^ollSouia  hSft  adopt  the  .iicory  that  it  was  a  poht- 
iScrim'e  or  an  '-tot  political  -'^K™' „„,,,,3i„„er.  looking  at 

are  not  living  in  th^e  thirteenth  cenUirj  in  A  cnjc^.^^  ^^^^  , 


I 


em  society  .iS  in  ♦'^fp"  nXrUs  b  en  fo  owe  1  t.y  fresh  develop- 
development  ot  'nteneclialism  uasocen  j  .  j^^'  ,^  i^lo  move- 
ments ot  crime.  ^  ^'•'"J  {'•' ^"™'^  fi^  i  se  f  to  one  dl.ection.  the 
ment.  that  movement  will  not  ^o™ '^^  ^^^^  ti,e  entire  social 

l^^tta::>^X%TucmZ.  w4llasthegood  to  excep- 


o 
a 

II 

n 
a 

t( 
F 

b 
y 
ii 
II 
n 
tl 
li 
o 
u 

V 

h 

81 

h 

si 
fi 

8) 

^A 

8 
t( 


J. 


A     WKKK    Ol'     l'A>SU)N. 


10 


\—l\w  stuff  went  <  ff 
iTciicU  of  the  !iiw ;  or 
Ih  u  suiciile  Q'l'^'f 
110  Stcrc'tiir., ,  with  h 

(or  a  iiiomont,  us  it 
1  wipe  nwiiy  the  mlu- 

1  miollicr  liypothcsis, 
ill  torsive  me  foi  re- 


\  Ills  person  witlioiit 
Imt  lliut  WHS  ihipossl- 

commissioner,  "  Hint 

1  to  mc—raiiy  this  not 
I  mil  of  the  "wiiy  soii.e 
,liy  persons,  in  sntli  :v 
LTt  utteution  troin  tlie 
^  of   the  means  eni- 

:ii(im?" 

he  lileu  that  there  was 

■  conceive  of  for  such 

tcrlives  are  very  cau- 
vay  from  the  main  oli- 
les  as  to  motive.  Still 
theory.  1  should  reply 
icli  or  eminent  person, 
lins:  to  net  ritl  of  this 
ml  (liaholical  ingenuity 
o  licBlroy  him.  in  such 
er  such  coniliiions,that 
ahlish  his  ideniity,  and 
•cry  tliat  it  was  a  polit- 

mmissioncr,  looking  at 
csseil  in  his  face,  "  we 
!iiice  or  Rome,  or  in  the 
ederick  the  Great." 
"  and  the  result  of  my 

■  is  always  the  same,  and 
he  committed  in  mod- 

ic  Miildle  Ages.  Every 
lowed  t)y  fresh  devclop- 
s  quickened  into  move- 
It  to  one  dliection,  the 
lervades  the  entire  social 
ill  as  the  good  to  e.\C€p- 


lioMttl  acllvlly.  In  our  day  the  improvement  in  the  organization  ot 
h..<iuty  for  self  protection  and  delense  impose  upon  llie  ••liniiiial  a 
;;iealer  cunt  ion  and  innenully  in  regard  to  (he  mi'thods  emploviil, 
and  science  lias  made  it  necessary  to  use  more  intelligence  and  ad 
dress;  hut  wc  must  not  foiuet  that,  if  science  assists  us  in  detei'iioii. 
it  also  puts  Into  the  hands  of  the  criminal  weapons  more  powerful, 
more  sure,  more  secret,  and  dinicult  of  dl.scovfiy,  ami  far  more  tor- 
midahle,  than  those  which  were  employed  in  the  limes  ot  tvhlch 
vou  speak." 

Mr.  Hontag  had  grown  (luile  rlo;pient.  lie  hud  drawn  himself 
u]).  lie  no  louL'er  looked  like  the  siilpordlnale,  awkwardly  silling  by 
ii>  he  Inslrucleil  hy  Ills  siiperiois;  he  had  assumed  rather  the  tone 
md  manner  of  a  peihigogiie  lecturing  his  pupils,  '[he  Home  Seere- 
lary  was  moie  struck  l>y  Ihls  alteration  in  -Mr.  Sontag's  manner 
ilian  the  chiel  commissioner,  who  knew  his  man.  Fci  ^onlag  was  a 
type  ot  the  modern  deteitlve,  inslructed,  rellective,  philosophic. 
.\n  I'.nglishman  by  birth,  he  was,  as  his  name  Implied,  a  Oerman 
by  descent  on  his  father  s  side,  and  he  united  much  ot  the  imagina- 
tive temperament  of  the  Oeiman  with  the  practical  (lualllies  of  the 
J^nglishman. 

The  two  superiors  remoiniiig  silent  for  a  lew  moments  with  as- 
ton!: '  nient  at  Mr.  Sontag's  sudden  evolution,  he  ventured  logo  on. 

"  1  have  told  yon  before.  Sir  Henry,  that  1  can  only  nccount  for 
one  or  two  rennukable  crimes  which  "have  happened  of  late  years, 
and  which  wo  hiive  attempted  in  vain  to  elueiUale,  by  supposing 
that  they  were  committed  at  the  instance  ol  some  wealthy  and  un- 
scrupulous jierson  or  persons,  wliose  iiositlou  and  character  were 
menaced,  and  to  whom  a  large  expenditure  ot  money,  in  order  to 
assure  absolute  secrecy  and  immunity  Iroiu  punishment,  was  r.  mat- 
ter ot  no  consecpience.  You  remember  the  case  ot  that  young 
French  lady  who  was  found  dead  in  her  room  in  her  lodgings  in 
Moiilton  Mtreet?  rthe  was  about  to  become  a  mother.  You  know 
nc  had  reason  to  believe  that  she  had  been  met  and  seduced  in  Paris 
by  one  ot  oui  most  wealthy  and  re8i)ectable  London  bankers,  a 
youngish  man,  Jl.P.,  In  good  society,  and  who  had  lately  married 
into  an  ailstocralic  family  in  England.  The  girl  herself  was  ot  n 
noble  French  tanilly,  but  in  reduced  circumstances.  They  knew 
nothing  whatever  about  the  lialtion,  and  when  she  came  to  England 
they  supposed  she  ..as  in  Normandy.  It  was  certain  the  intimacy 
had  continued  off  and  on  tor  two  years,  and  yet  all  the  researches 
of  the  Paris  police  could  not  discover  where  and  how  they  had 
met.  Only  one  person  could  be  found  who  knew  anythintr  about  it 
—a  woman  friend,  to  whom  she  had  confided  her  condition,  and  to 
wliiun  she  had  written  one  letter  from  London.  The  poor  lady, 
having  heard  of  his  marriage,  had  come  here  resolved  to  make  him 
sdtle  a  handsome  lorlnne  on  her  and  her  child,  or  else  to  denounce 
him.  That  she  had  seen  him  once  in  London  we  knew  from  that 
single  lettc".  In  it  she  referred  to  bis  name  only  by  Initials.  Her 
friend  had  never  seen  hiai,  did  not  know  his  name.  In  her  letter 
she  said  she  had  asked  him  to  settle  on  her  half  a  million  ot  francs, 
^vhicll  proved  that  she  believed  him  to  be  a  man  of  princely  wealth. 
She  was  a  beautiful  woman,  and  everything  about  her — her  dress, 
toilet,  baggage,  iewels— all  showed  that,  whoever  he  was,  the  man 


A     WKKK    01-    I'AfWiON. 


It 


"0 

o.ulcl  iln.l  ....  trmr  ot  1.. ..     '  ^  i\u1v's  roon.  aIm.i.I  hM 

liiiiiiii 

This  was  .1  bli..a.     1  l.e  '•.'  >^  .  '      uv      lie  noliccl  a  ncimlmr  odoi 

worketl  at  .t  Willi  any  tneitj .     '",''«,  ,„  ,,,,„  hanasnniclv  to 
7heuian  v,lio  was  conceruea  co^.W  alio  1  l^W/^"' There 'was 


A     \V|;KK     111'     I'APSION. 


«l 


Well,  nil  cvliU'liLi' 

k-.        No   (MIC    llllll    (,'VCT 

•iris.  Ill  l-oiiiliin,  a> 
iiilliiily,  «li>!  iiiiuli'  III'' 
1)11  (liiiilil  I'lii  "»  1"'' 

llllXiOllS  lO    iK'lll    lll-T. 

hhe  WDiiM  siikI  li<'>','* 
ivcr  Been  il;,'ilill.  V\  c 
I  (loclor  I'uinu  in  tin' 
lily's  room  ilioiil  liii't 
li)"tLMauio«,  iinil  went- 
Irosscil  in  11  liu'lil  trriiy 
■11  hurii  siltTiiiiii;-  niixi- 
lio  liindliiilv.  lioweviT, 
,imllurl.iil-;cniioli>'ii- 
Immii','  I'y  lii-'t  siiii'. 

ivas  iiilii'il  in  Wiis 

lolii't'il  II  pcdiiliiir  oiloi 
sUiii,  wliicli  WHS  vory 
a  iM'i'ii  iii)i>lii'il  li>  ll'L' 
ler  nlulitilit'ss  luul  Hic 
iiik'iii'bkMnmuliiy,  luiil 
scuUcrcil  iilio.it.  TliL' 
1  wliultsvcr  or  poison." 
Iter. 

inc  by  iipplyiui;  to  licr 
iro  of  cliiorotorni  ami 
li  killed  tliu  celi'briileil 
I  its  etleclBon  the  em. 
like  a  musk,  tlio  liiun 
luUliucreiiselheirritiint 
r  the  redileneil  uppriir- 
(  had  disiippeurod,  but 
r  lU-niy.  Uuvc  you  ever 
jury  that  this  last  vis- 
ml  who  luurdcrt'd  hw'l 
and  1  will  tell  you  why. 
I  woman.     Moreover,  1 
and  1  weiu  to  penetrate 
Jur  subordinates  never 
something  behind  that. 
1  10  pay  handsomely  to 
I  say  more.    There  was 
lUt  it,  and  who  niaungt'd 
jc  there  was  no  ividenco 
delicate  approach  lo  him 
thing  whatever  about  I  lie 
ials  in  the  letter,  and  Ihe 
iarance,  which  is  a  slrik- 
mystery  to  be  cleaied  up 

ent,  Mr.   Sonlag.     Vonr 
a  is  better  omitted  trom 


vcur  ..mdal  iippreclallon^  I  am  atnild  that  nil  V^usay  and  isii^pwt 
liiM.iit  tliiii  fan.'  Monlv  too  nciir  llu'  mark,"  siilil  n.  -  '  hlct  iMiiiiinm 
sloiKT  •■  I  Imvn  nUsiw*  Imm-ii  dissallslli  d  alioiil  it.  ilie  Iriilh  l» 
tlii.t  without  iilisdliili'  proof,  we  can  iml  liik  chiiri;e«  ii-:»iti»l  |M.'oplo 
ot  hi'di  posllioii  and  Bical  wcallli.  .\><  ynii  nav.  they  have  Mil  Im- 
mense power  ol  piiiclianluu'  or  Heciiriiii:  the  HiipprcPHion  ol  cvidcnm 

•  Well,  Sir  llenrv,  wliv  may  not  this  cum-  lie  one  of  the  kind  I 
havn  retei'i'ed  lo';  It  Ih  not  nn'onlinary  caste  'I'lioiit'li,  on  the  lace 
ol  It  it  looks  so  '-uiu'ar  Mini  stupid,  and  oulra,:,'cous,  It  Is  altoi;ether 
loo  I'nvsteriiius  lo  be  accounted  for  l>y  any  commonplace  tlieorie». 
Take  "my  word  for  it,  the  real  crimlnals-fot  I  am  Miire  it  was  no 
siiici.lo— are  citlier  podlical  con»piriitois,  and  t'.iat  1  don't  liellevp, 
tor  if  1  am  not  mistaken,  the  man  was  an  Kngllslimiin,  ami  neither 
Fenian  Nihilht,  nor  Socialist— or  thev  are  people  who  ar<!  ot  such 
position  and  wcallli  that,  when  llnse  were  mcimced,  they  would 
haidlv  hesilate  In  ooinmll  any  crime  or  go  to  any  e.vpenso  to  nave 
thcinsulvcs  from  discovery."  ,,,,.,        ,i, 

•  Tlicrc  Is  something  behind  all  thi*.  Sonlag,  said  the  chief 
commissioner,  looking  nl  Ids  subordinate  sharply.  "  \oii  have 
some  Intoriiiation';" 

.Mr,  .'^ontag  unilod  without  imrtlng  his  lips. 

••  Oiii  wllh  it,  man!  Wiiat  is  it  you  have  found  out';  Several  ot 
these  lelters  point  to  a  political  motive," 

'  Precisely  Sir  Henry,"  said  Mr.  Sontag,  "  And  having  exam- 
imd  Hiem  closely,  I  am  satistled  with  regard  to  tliose,  that,  though 
they  ate  in  dilTeicnl  handwrilimis,  they  ail  cuine  from  the  same 
source  Tliev  are  simply  red  herrings  trailed  across  our  path.  The 
same  man  colnposed  them  all;  he  is  a  lawyer.  The  turns  of  expres- 
sion are  similar  In  each,  in  spite  of  his  elTorl  lo  vary  them,  which 
i)rove8  that  he  is  u  legal  iiractilloner  accustomed  to  one  formal  man- 
ner of  e.vpresslon.  and  not  a  man  ot  high  literary  culture  or  nraclico 
in  style  The  style  Is  that  of  a  solicitor,  and  a  clever  one.  Hut  you 
are  right,  1  have  some  information,  and  I  will  tell  you  why  1  am 
certain  that  this  is  not  a  political  outrage." 

"Come  now,"  said  the  minister,  settling  himself  down  in  Uia 
chair  and  looKing  at  Mr.  Sontag  with  interest,  "  this  looks  more 
like  business.     Go  on,  please." 

"  Well  sir  the  boy  Lightbones  is  a  sharp  boy.  a  peer  s  servant, 
and  none  arc  quicker  than  gentlemen's  servants  to  detect  a  real  gen- 
tleman from  a  false  when  they  see  one.  lie  tells  me  that,  from  the 
view  he  had  of  the  man,  he  is  certain  he  was  a  '  gentleman.   ' 

"Why  he  only  caw  him  for  two  or  three  seconds,  did  he?  said 
the  Home  Secretary.  ,„  ,  ..,,,, 

"And  for  a  sharp-eyed  boy,  Mr.  Minister,  that  1  hold  was 
enough  Take  my  own  case.  1  have  a  trained  eye,  not  so  quick 
as  Iloudin's,  but  prettv  quick  for  all  that.  Give  me  a  full,  fair 
ftllmpse  of  a  man,  dresswl  on  a  summer  uay.  standing  In  bioad  day 
fiKhl  on  a  pavement,  and  1  Ihink  1  could  rely  pretty  well  on  theeor- 
r.  ctness  of  ray  appreciation  of  the  general  character  ot  the  objective 
Hersonallly  in  question."  . 

Mr.  Sontag's  German  side  was  turning  outward. 

"  But  surely,"  said  the  Home  Secretary,  who  evinced  more  In- 
terest in  the  philosophic  appreciations  ot  Mr.  Sontag  than  he  had 


•If, 


■■^■:  I 


I 


■-.^^ 


22 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


s 


M 


J 


;:l 


in  llie  discussion  of  tlie  pron  and  cohki^I  actual  lacts,  "  you  couldu't 
tell  whether  your  '  objectivu  personahly,'  as  3-ou  term  it,  was  a 
banker  or  a  doctor?" 

"  :No,  ilr.  Secretnrj',  I  don't  think  1  could  y,o  into  tliotte  refine- 
ments in  so  short  a  time,  though,  with  a  tew  minutes'  observntion, 
]  could  guess  correctly,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  eveii  so  closely  as 
that,  liut  1  could  tr\l  you,  Sir  Walter,  witli  some  coufldcnce, 
whether  he  was  an  aristocrat  oi  a  tradesman  or  a  workman.  1  could 
tell  you  whether  he  ■.»  .'s  a  gentleman,  by  wliich  1  mean  belonging  to 
the  cultivated  chifcses  and  tlie  professions,  or  a  shopman  or  u  pub- 
lican or  aswell-mobsmau,  I  might  even,  1  think,  tell  you  wliclher 
he  was  a  military  man  or  a  civilian,  on  actor  or  a  jockey,  a  gentle- 
man out  at  elbows  or  a  servant  out  of  place,  but  1  could  not,  with- 
out closer  study,  go  into  the  finer  shades  of  chflracter.  There  is 
really  nothing  e.\traordinary  about  Ibis.  The  rapidity  of  observa- 
tion is  the  artist's  faculty.  He  has  a  quick  glance,  which  takes  in 
all  the  outlines,  all  the' details  of  form  anil  color;  and  the  real  artist 
has,  besides  that,  an  intuitive  sense  of  the  character  of  the  object  be 
looks  al.  Every  good  detective  is  an  artist  with  the  poetry  sup- 
pressed—" 

"  1  should  tell  you,  Sir  Walter,"  said  the  chief  commissioner, 
■who  seemed  pleased  at  the  way  in  which  Itis  subordinate  was  com- 
ing out,  "  that  Wr.  Sontag's  art  is  not  suppressed,  lie  has  exhibit- 
ed some  very  pretty  pictures  at  tae  Water-color  Society's  Exhibi- 
tion." 

Mr.  Sontag's  face  took  on  a  sort  of  faint  water-color  blush  at  his 
chief's  compliment,  ami  he  went  on: 

"  When  natural  quickness  of  observation  is  trained,  then  you  gel, 
as  in  Houdln's  case,  almost  miraculous  results.  You  remember  be 
could  pass  a  shop-window  at  a  walk  and  afterward  catalogue  and 
describe  every  object  in  it.  However,  1  on!y  wished  to  explabi  that 
it  is  quite  possible  young  Lightbones  is  correct  in  his  appreciation  of 
the  person  he  saw.  Ihad  him  for  an  hour  in  a  window  in  Parliament 
Street  and  tested  him  by  makins:  him  glance  rapidly  at  passers-bj', 
while  1  said, '  One,  two,  three, 'and  he  rarely  made  a  mistake  in  disiib- 
guishiiig  a  '  gentleman  '  from  persons  well  dressed,  but  obviously  be- 
longing to  the  classes  that  work  and  trade.  Ills  power  of  seeing  and 
appreciating  is  exceptianally  rapid,  and  it  strikes  lue  he  would  make 
a  good  detective,  for  he  is  sharp  as  needles.  He  even  thinks  now 
that  he  could  recognize  the  man's  face  if  he  saw  a  photograph.  I 
questioned  him  closelv.  The  figure  evidently  made  a  vivid  impres- 
sion, which  came  back  atter  the  fright  was  over.  1  took  a  note  of 
his  recollections— such  as  they  are.  '  Large,  square  face,  rather 
brown-black  bushy  ej'ebrows— nose  round  '  —he  saw  the  front  face, 
and  a  large,  prominent  nose  would  give  that  impression  at  a  hasty 
glanue — '  mouth  quite  straight- -it  seemed  like  a  slit  in  a  money- 
box '—that  is  a  very  striking  and  important  detail—'  big,  square 
chin— whiskers,  dark  hair,  no  beard  or  mustache.'  Tou  of)serve 
the  lad  has  a  pretty  fair  picture  of  the  man  in  his  memory.  Now 
we  Have  minute  descriptions  of  all  the  Fenian  suspects  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic,  but  none  resemble  this.  Again,  the  boy's  impres- 
sion of  the  man's  age  is  that  it  was  over  fifty,  liis  hand 
couilrmB  it.    The  sufgeons  say  it  is  not  the  hand  of  a  workman. 


SION. 

ictuiil  tacts, 
,y,'  lis  you 


"  you  couldn't 
tenn  it,  was  a 


could  so  into  tlioric  vetine- 
tcw  minutes'  observntion. 
i  ot  ten,  eve.i  so  closely  as 
er,  witU  some  coutldcnce, 
auin  or  a  workman.  1  could 
which  1  niuan  belonging  to 
s  or  a  shopman  or  a  pub- 
,'l  think,  tell  you  whetliur 
I'ctor  or  a  jockey,  a  gentle- 
lace,  but  1  could  not,  witli- 
des  of  clisractcr.     There  la 
Tlie  rapidity  ot  obscrva- 
uick  glance,  which  takes  m 
mil  color;  and  the  real  artist 
he  character  of  the  object  ho 
artist  with  the  poetry  sup- 
aid  the  chief  commissioner, 
ah  his  subordinate  was  coin- 
suppressed,    lie  has  exhibit- 
jfater-color  Society's  Exhibi- 

aint  water-color  blush  at  his 

ftlion  is  trained,  then  you  get, 
J  results.     You  remember  lie 
and  afterward  catalogue  ami 
I  on'y  wished  to  explain  thnl 
9  correct  in  his  appreciation  of 
our  in  a  window  in  rarliamcut 
glance  rapidly  at  passers-ljy, 
■arely  made  a  mistake  in  disiic- 
well  aressed,  but  obviously  bl- 
ade.   His  power  of  seeing  and 
d  it  strikes  me  he  would  make 
eedles.     He  even  thinks  now 
e  it  he  saw  a  photograph,     i 
vidently  made  a  vivid  impres- 
it  was  over.    1  took  a  note  ot 
'  Large,    square  face,  rather 
ound  •  -he  saw  tlie  front  face, . 
ve  that  impression  at  a  liasty 
eemed  like  a  slit  in  a  money- 
important  detail-'  big,  square 
I  or  mustache.'    Tou  observe 
,e  man  in  his  memory.    Now 
e  Fenian  suspects  on  both  siaes 
his.    Again,  the  boy's  impres- 
,   was   over   fifty.     His   hand 
i8  not  the  hand  of  a  workman. 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX.  ^'3 

and  you  can  see  it  is  not.  Though  ft  is  muscular,  it  is  a  gentle- 
man s  hand.  '  The  nails  are  well  kept,  it  is  wliite  and  soft,  not  a 
hand  accustomed  to  tools,  though  it  might  have  managed  a  cricket 
bat  or  a  pair  ot  oars  witli  strength  and'adilress.  The  Fenians  may 
have  among  tliem  persons  wlio  liave  lieen  clerks  or  professional  men 
of  a  low  order,  but  they  certainly  have  no  gentlemen.  1  abandon 
the  Irish  theory  allogetlier.  AVell,  then,  it  is  said  a  cliemisl  or  min 
iusreugineer  may  have  been  taking  home  some  nitro-glyccrine  to 
experiment  upon.  Hut  you  see  we  have  not  had  a  single  person  of 
tliat  description  reported  to  us  as  missing.  Here  is  the  list.  A  bar- 
rister—tliey  are  always  disappearing;  it  is  a  precarious  profession 
for  any  Imt  a  solicitor's  son.  Two  solicitors— ditto— tliey,  however, 
generally  take  something  with  tliert.  A  clergyman— perhaps  gone 
over  to  Ijomc.  A  *  gentleman,'  that  is,  a  person  of  no  occupation— 
we  are  inquiring  about  him— and  a  financial  agent— 1  wonder  there 
is  only  one  lliis  week— a  stock-broker,  l^astly,  there  is  a  gentleman 
of  some  position  and  importance,  tlie  agent  or  steward  of  the  Earl 
of  Selby,  who  came  up  from  Yorkshire  on  the  20th,  and  was  to 
have  met  the  earl  in  his  house  in  Portman  Square  at  five  o'clock  on 
Thursday  afternoon  and  never  turned  up.  This  gentleman's  name 
was  Barton." 

"Lord  Selby's  steward!"  cried  the  Home  Secretary.  "  Wby, 
Lord  Selby  is  a  relative,  and  was  the  guardian  of  Lord  Tilbury. 
What  an  odd  coincidence!" 

"  The  coincidence  would  be  even  more  odd  were  the  very  man 
who  was  hlown  up  to  turn  out  to  be  this  same  Mr.  Barton.  In  my 
opinion,  we  should  adopt  tlie  theory,  odd  as  it  may  seem,  that  the 
victim  is  this  Mr.  Barton,  and  devote  our  best  attention  to  elucidat- 
ing his  fate." 

The  minister  and  the  chief  commissioner  looked  earnestly  at  Mr. 
Sontag. 

"  Wliat  cap  be  running  in  your  head?"  said  the  commissmner. 

"  In  th'  ,rst  place,  sir,  Mr.  Barton's  little  finger  had  a  peculiarity 
^hich  answers  to  that  of  the  hand  on  the  mantel-piece.  The  peculi- 
arity was  congenital.  The  surgeons  declare  that  the  crook  ot  tlie 
joint  in  this  hand  is  congenita'.  In  the  second  place,  the  description 
"given  of  Mr.  Barton  answers  to  tlie  description  given  by  Liglitbonea. 
Unhappily,  that  gentleman  always  objected  to  sit  for  his  photo- 
graph, so  that  we  can  not  use  that  means  of  identification.  The 
only  portrait  of  him  is  a  painting  twenty  years  old.  In  the  third 
place,  his  son,  who  was  with  me  last  evening,  is  prepared  to  swear 
that  tliat  is  his  father's  hand." 

Botli  the  high  officials  started. 

"  Wliy  the didn't  you  tell  us  all  this  before,"  said  the  Home 

Secretary,  peevishly,  "  instead  ot  wasting  our  time  in  generalities?" 
'  Because,  Mr.  Secretary,  the  evidence  is,  unfortunately,  far 
from  conclusive,  and  a  charge  has  been  lodged  against  Mr.  Barton 
by  the  Earl  of  Selby's  own  solicitors  of  having  run  away  with 
a  quantity  of  bonds." 

"  Hum!    It  seems  to  be  a  pretty  kettle  of  fish." 

"  Fourthly,  Sir  Walter  and  Mr.  Commissioner,  1  have  an  extraor- 
dinary piece  of  evidence— the  minutest  piece  of  evidence  that  ever 
was  produced  in  a  couri  of  justice.    Ten  minutes  before  the  catas- 


I- 


34  A     WEEK    OF    PASSION. 

trophcMr.  Barton  ...  in  'i-;;X,°\,Kle?Uo"K."S'anri 
Ueljent  Street      He  cnlua^o^^a^^^^^  ^.^^„^^.,^  „„t  „f 

put  in  or.  er.  I  ^7'  '  X\\\7  Ke"'"u  Street  tovanl  the  Circus, 
LuD.l's  sl.op  au.l  1™"\>  "  reclfon  l,t  >^^^^  tukeu  iu  leaving  the 
which  they  tohl  '"«  ;7;V    ^    [h1      U^^^o^^  exactly  nine  min- 

S^'aml'Sf;j\r-ona^-SthiV.ot where  the  catastrophe  o. 

givinf:  his  let   eyf  ul.  '■\^^^^J'^  a"  ess  maicstic  persou.  have  been 
^rt  of  twite,  ^vhiehnghljn^^^^^^^^^^^  ^^\  ^ 

taken  lor  a  winU       J°'\.'°" 'ko„i  ,„  ,,low  himselt  up  in  Ke-ent 
Slcus^'ou^^riorl's^a^ftUeitwith  hin.  into  the  other 

^''?- Mr'^fflary.  ^^•ith  submission.  1  don't  think  the  indiviaual  ia 
question  blew  bimself  up  at,  all-  ^,o^„  i,-,,,,  up.- 

::S'i'"hr\\tsth>n?SS'S°^  l^i«  >U«  up 

tl«h^'SlWuee^^us<.- ^n^t^o^m^^  ^^^,  ^,^ 

The  two  K\'^'\  ,'^S"  '^^^.rni^cTo  tlie  chief  ileteclive's  astute- 
iavorable  opmiou  ^I'^y  ]if  ^  '/^^' q"  ,„,„n  and  philosophic  siae  ot 
Srnatu'i'r^^lS'tblKe  oSspracticalUse.    Mr.  Sontag 

realized  this  change  'n/•;•;'y,;?^'y"f  ^     ..  i^[\\  produce  this  minute 
pie;;^^^£"n"ce^«SlXs  t^^dThtr^ong  a^n  influence  on  my 

"^S';;ok  out  a.<^'/---i;|;.  's^^^s^i:^^ 

it  a  small  piece  oI/,°»^'^,f,,7,5'YoK  "  ^!°^'^- 

second  piece  ot  to  Wed  P'^P*'*' ?""„ ',,.°  „,i.e  upon  it,  he  rose  and  ap- 
ing it  carefully  aside  so  as  not  to  brea^he^  ^j^„ 

^rSe  -arr  The'SoUl  wa^  evidently,  in  Mr.  Sontag's 
"P^TaVonlrM°"secretary-M  Commissioner-will  you  kindly 
hold  your  breath  while  1  open  this  paper  ,oreflngers  very 

He  pushed  back  the  edge  of  t^^^^^^^^^  who  is  abou^  to  per- 

fSa'mira^cuE  tJlck!  whicb  h'e  knows  will  succeed  audconfound 
"\ttSe  middle  <A  the  paper  was  a  speck  about  the  size  of  a  lady's 

paK'buTinstead  ot  l'^.^  l>l-^'L;i??i„tSss.  the  detective  pre- 
Takingouto    his  pocket  a  "'«f '™  =^;'^^        face  so  as  not 

all  the  while,  be  said  ^, 

"  Do  you  see,  fciTVV  alter  r  the  face  turned  his  nose 

J^t^  Il^ejtffas^^  -S*^'.>-  to  the  chief 
commissioner^  said,  "  a  small  piece  of  white  enamel,  and  on  it  three 
very  small  letters,  which  1  make  out  to  be  ham. 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION'. 


m 


the  watcb-muker,  in 
ett  to  be  cleiinud  anil 
ell,  1  walked  out  of 
.  to  vara  the  I'ircus, 
taken  iu  leaving  the 
le  exactly  nine  min- 
ere  the  cata8troi)he  ol 

nn  air  of  raillery,  ami 
jhief  commissioner,  a 
tic  person,  have  been 
Mr  Sontug,  that  you 
himself  np  in  Kegent 
h  him  into  the  other 

hink  the  individv.al  in 

have  blown  him  up?" 
,  shutting  his  lips  up 
inls. 

a.  reaction  against  the 
lief  ileteclive's  astute- 
id  pliilosophic  side  of 
cal  sense.     Mr.  Sontag 

ill  produce  this  minute 
5  an  influence  on  my 

itiously,  extracted  from 
;led  again  from  that  a 
liaby's  powder.  Hold- 
pon  it,  he  rose  and  ap- 
lommissioner  also  rose, 
untly,  in  Mr.  Sontag  s 

sioner— will  you  kindly 

ilh  his  foreflngers  very 
or  who  is  about  to  per- 
ill  succeed  and  confound 

jout  the  size  of  a  lady's 

ite. 

.rliiss,  the  detective  pre- 

°away  bis  face  so  as  not 

e  on  the  precious  nioisel 

he  face,  turned  his  nose 
led  the  glass  to  the  chief 

e  enamel,  and  on  it  three 

HAM." 


Sir  Henry,  who  had  examined  the  thin;:,  .lodded. 

••  ProciBely,"  said  the  detective,  as  he  cautiously  refolded  the  pa 
per.     "  .\nri  what  do  you  make  of  that?" 

•'  There  is  no  use  in  putting  conundrums  to  us,"  said  the  Home 
Secretary,  testily.  "Be  good  enough  to  tell  us,  Mr.  Sontag,  what 
vou  make  of  it. 

•  Well,  Mr.  Minister,  and  Sir  IlenTy."  said  the  detective,  grave- 
ly, '■  the  watch  which  Mr.  Burton  usually  carried,  and  which  he  had 
on  him  that  day,  for  he  took  it  out  of  his  pocket  and  hud  it  set  by 
Lund's  clironometer,  was  a  beautiful  chronometer  watch,  with  a 
white  face,  and  the  maker  was  Frodsham,  of  the  Strand." 

The  two  otflciais  started. 

"  The  other  watch,  which  he  had  left  to  be  overhauled,  was  a 
Swiss  watch,  a  valuable  one,  and  he  said  he  meant  to  give  it  to  his 
sou.  2sow  if  1  can  prove  that  this  minute  piece  of  white  enamel, 
bcarini;  the  last  three  letters  ot  the  name  of  Fiodsham— letters  pre- 
cisely like  those  of  a  veritable  Frodsham,  which  1  have  this  morn- 
iui;  obtaiued  from  the  maker  " — he  took  out  of  his  pocket  a  watch, 
and  touching  the  spring  of  the  case,  disclosea  a  while  watch-face, 
bearing  the  maker's  name  in  letters  incontestably  similar  to  those  on 
the  piece  of  enamel—"  it,  1  say,  1  can  prove  (hat  this  piece  of 
enamel  came  from  the  bo(U'  of  the  man  who  was  killed  iu  the  Cir- 
cus, will  that  have  any  influence  on  your  minds?" 

"  Where  did  you  get  that  fragment?"  cried  the  chief  commis- 
sioner, astounded. 

"  Vou  remember,  Sir  Henry,  that  a  Yorkshire  bailiff  named  Hil- 
ton was  close  to  the  scene  of  the  catastrophe  at  the  time,  and  wns 
sprinkled  with  the  remains  ot  the  deceased?  Yesterday  1  submitted 
the  clothes  to  a  careful  examination  with  h  powerful  glass.  Hilton 
was  wearing  a  homespun  suit.  At  the  told  of  the  collar  1  found  a 
clot  of  blood,  and  held,  partly  by  the  clot  and  partly  by  the  wool,  1 
discovered  a  minute  fragment  of  metal  or  glass,  which  nearly  es- 
caped me.  1  was  curious.  1  look  it  and  placed  it  in  a  wine-glass, 
and  waslied  it.  You  have  seen  what  it  is.  1  instantly  guessed  it 
was  part  of  a  watch-face,  and  1  examined  the  names  of  all  the 
watch-makers  in  the  directory  for  any  which  gave  the  combination 
of  letters  existing  on  the  fragment.  My  inquiries  lead  me  to  suspect, 
at  least,  that  this  may  be  a  portion  of  "Mr.  Barton's  watch,  and  if  it 
could  ouly  be  proved  that  it  was,  1  should  require  no  further  proot 
ot  the  identity  of  Mr.  Barton  with  the  subject  ot  our  problem.  Ills 
son  was  with  me  last  night.  He  is  a  clever  and  reticent  young  man, 
but  after  learning  all  that  1  have  just  told  you,  lie  stated  that  he  was 
satisfied  that  his  father  was  the  person  who  had  perished  in  the  Cir- 
cus, and  that  he  should  act  accordingly.  My  belief  is  that  he  en- 
tertains similar  suspicions  to  my  own,  for  some  reasons  known  only 
to-himselt,  and  which  1  could  not  induce  him  to  disclose.  But  1 
shall  know  them,"  added  Mr.  Sontag,  shutting  his  lips  with  a  quick 
movement,  and  nodding  his  head. 

"  But,"  said  the  chief  commissioner,  "  Lord  Selby  and  Lord  Sel- 
hy's  solicitors  have  been  moving  heaven  and  earth  to  discover  Mr. 
Barton's  whereabmits— they  say  he  has  run  away  with  a  lot  ot  im- 
portant and  valuable  papers.  1  really  can  not  understand,  Mr.  Son- 
tag,  what  direction  your  suspicions  are  pointing  in." 


Wm 


f^Q  A     WEKK    OF    PASSION. 

Mr.  Sontag  «.m  kept  }]--^^-'}l^'^}fl^,:^'iC^^^^ 

?m  ntcss  ot  Selby      His  rental  was  over  thirty  thousamt  a  X'^ar    He 

and  noblemen  may  be  freemasons,  no  EbrIisu  peer  \>m  uc 
associate  ot  conspirators  and  assassms. 

Oo  that  make  wonderfully  sliarp  hits. 
Bir  Henry  laugued  and  took  his  leave. 


[indput  on  the  air  of 
\t  you  like— 1  know 
at  lie  (lid  not  imimrt 

rowing  himself  back 
me  see.    The  young 
.;url  of  Selby,  her  fa- 
ns very  fond  ot  her, 
Tilbury.  Vou  know 
)n  tlie  Continent  and 
L'ars  before  his  denth, 
hem  about  the    late 
thousand  a  year.  He 
iton,  which  he  left,  1 
der  to  her  son,  and  a 
good  terms  with  her 
slates.     The  late  Earl 
uted  the  present  Earl 
rs  and  guardians  ot 
us  ago.  Tilbury  came 
fuss  about  it-  nearly 
ngs,  which  were  held 
lutely  above  suspicion 
linguishcd  men  in  the 
ul  at  him,  1  anist  tell 
ire  only  wasting  time, 
certainly,  but  you  see 
must  look  somewhere 

i  tightly  and  remained 

tul  and  said  nothing, 

face  of  his  chief,  and 

L'ct  any  further  at  that 

ecietary,  in  a  tone  half 
'eutonic  love  of  poetry 
;:nglish  common-sense, 
dihough  royal  princes 
L  peer  will  become  the 

)mmissioner,  when  his 
thai  sometimes  he  has 

n  by  induction." 

asniile.  "If you  were 
frequently  people  who 


A    WBBK    OF    PASSIOir.  fTi 


CHAPTER  HI. 

18    HE    SINCERE? 

Ox  the  morning  of  Monday,  the  30tli  of  June,  at  about  eleven 
o'clock,  a  young  man,  carefully  dresscil  in  deep  mourning,  and 
who,  though  lie  did  not  e.\liil)it"(liat  aulHle  distinction  and  quiet  as- 
surance of  carriage  which  is  ^iveu  by  a  consciousness  of  aristocratic 
birtli  and  bocial  enuuence,  yet  had  "the  uppearauce  and  manner  ot 
one  who  has  l)een  accustomed  to  mix  in  the  best  society,  presented 
himself  at  the  door  of  the  great  lauiily  mansion  of  the  Tilburys,  ia 
Grosveiior  Place,  one  of  tiie  largest  and  most  imposing,  if  not  tht 
least  ugly,  of  the  structures  which,  some  twenty  years  since,  should- 
ered out"  of  that  aristocratic  quarter  the  dmgv  brick  shops  and 
dwellings  erected  nearly  a  century  before  by  the  original  lessees  of 
the  Duke  ot  Westminster. 

The  gray-headed  servant,  who,  to  answer  the  modest  appeal  ot 
the  bell,  had  emerged  from  his  leather-hoodedseatin  the  hall,  where 
he  hail  been  perusing  at  his  ease  the  "  Jlorning  Post,"  and  who 
bore  on  his  wrinkled  face  the  traces  of  sleeplessness  and  anxiety, 
started  when  he  saw  the  young  gentleman  who  wta  standing  under 
the  portico. 

"  Is  her  ladyship  at  home,  Simpson?"'  said  the  visitor. 

"  What,  is  it  you,  Master  Barton?  How  you  have  changed  to  be 
sure!  lou  have  grown  a  mustache.  Will  you  please  to  come  in  a 
moment?  though  you  can't  see  her  ladyship." 

The  yoimg  gentleman,  who  appeared  to  have  great  self  possession, 
said  nothing  until  the  old  man  hud  shut  the  door  and  turned  toward 
him.  He  glanced  rapidly  round  the  great  hall,  with  its  marble  floor, 
its  scagliola  pillars  and  panels,  its  lofty  ceiling  a  la  Kenuissance,  vi- 
olently gilded  and  painted  by  Italian  artists,  its  furniture  of  rich 
mahoijany,  and  the  heavy  Moorish  curtains  which  acted  as  portUres 
between  the  outer  and  inner  hall,  and  said,  in  a  low  voice,  .  , 

"  Is  there  any  one  within  heariug?" 

"No,  Mr.  Burton,"  replietl  the  man.  "The  two  footmen  are 
down-stairs  having  something  to  eat.  Vou  know  everything  is  up- 
s^'t  here.  We  are  kept  up  all  night— hardly-  cetting  any  sleep— doc- 
tors coming  and  going— people  calling  to  mquire — look  at  that  bas- 
ket of  cards— there's  bushels  ot  'em  in  tiic  library— lawyers  prowl- 
ing about,  and  what  not.  1  tell  you,  Master  George,  1  don't  know 
whether  I'm  standing  on  my  head  or  my  feet.  I've  had  no  sleep 
tor  four  nights,  since  thej'  brought  my  lord  home  senseles-s.  And 
tliere  he  is  now,  lying  just  as  he  came  in  a  Thursday  night,  and  we 
every  minute  expecting  to  hear  that  it's  all  over  with  him,  poor  fel- 
low! Oh,  blaster  George!  Master  George!  1  don't  know  what  I'm 
doing  or  saying,  and  can  hardly  hold  myself  up!"  And  the  old  man 
sunk  down  in  his  great  chair,  and  covered  his  eyes  tor  a  moment 
with  his  skinny  hand. 

"  It  is  dreadful!"  said  theyoung  gentleman,  in  a  short,  hard  tone, 
the  lines  of  his  face  setting  like  ihoje  of  a  wooden  image.     His  com- 


,Si- 


-t 


2§ 


A    AVEKK    OF    PASSIOK. 


plcxlon  wnB  brown   "naa'aSecSe"^"  ri«!.tf"?i^t?^-^ 

power,  n.l  ^'""'VTno,  r  h   » ^^  '"^1^^^'  '""^ 

with  lliiclychiselea  n"«'r''^  '"?  "  ^;:„  "'  „  magnetic:  power  lo  a 
luminosity  the  "^^""f'  .,;^'^^  Uv'  aow^inT^^^^  over  „  brou.l 
(lark  eye;  imir  '«  ,,  ''"J^-,*;,"  1  ^"1,;  organs  ot  perception  ^ve^e 
torelRMul   low    nil    tu   .   n  ^.„„.,,,',,pc<l  cyehrows  pioj.;eled 

was  not  tall,  hut  liis  '"°";,,,',,i'  „,.,/„.,  i,is  feet,,  as  well  as  Uie  mus- 
flrmness  with  ^v'^'^''  '^l  e  r  Ll.t  I  uu  which  was  nngloveO.  nu;l 
cular  appearance  ot  V'^h  tV^tificl  to  consiclcrahlc  slrensith.  llad 
browned  by  the  sun  am  a  ^  f  le  wo^ld  1  ave  seen  that  its  hack 
any  one  lookeil  closely  U  leu  .^  uid  hat  H'e  nail-joint  ot  the 
Jl?;^l?n^.S:  P  S  ir^ni^^SXtibly.  bent  infant,  could 

Jl^rjnrlds  ar  ^fhrhe  rc^i^od  it  thly  looked  red  and 
^'••'simpson."  said  the  youn«  man.  "  I  want  to  see  the  countess- 

grams  here  '•""^'j^^f  ^-g'^'^^  .;  rrefu  ed  o  see  Mr.  Pollanl-he'8 
the  earl  answers  t''^'»-  „^^,'^-!,_  ,„a  Ue'sheenheie  three  times,  and 

"  Lord  bless  my  •  3"l!  ^f  f","  gj  sUnck  me  when  1  saw  you- 
do  they  say?" 


A    AVEKK    OF    TASsION. 


29 


f  grent  nncl  striking 
ht,  prominent  nose, 
iiorcllniirj'  ilcplli  luid 
maunetle  power  to  n 
a  nms9  over  >\  hvonil 
of    pLMTcption  were 
I  cyel)rows  piojeelecl 
n<l^  power.     Under  ii 
iiontli  straight.  Hiin- 
closely  slmven.    lie 
robust  lioilv.  and  Hie 
t,,  as  well  as  ll»e  mus- 
i  was  nngioveiJ,  nn.l 
lenible  slrensitli.  Had 
avo  seen  tlial  its  back 
t  tlie  nnil-joint  ot  Hie 
y,  bent  inward,  co>il(l 

Simpson  l;ept  l>is  eyes 
I  they  loolced  red  and 

,  to  see  the  countess— 

in  accent  of  snrprise. 
I  have  had  to  shut  the 
hy,  tliere's  l)cen  tele- 
slie's  even  seen  'em- 
see  Jlr.  Pollard— he's 
nlieie  three  times,  and 
lin't  no  use;  slie  won't 
rd  Selby  lias  spoken  to 


1.   He  sees  'most  eveiy- 
Perhaps  that's  what 

nphasis  and  a  deepness 
iitellipent  observer  than 
ul  emotion, 
at  Simpson.    Then  he 

ler  was  lost?" 
it,  Master  George.  Why 
:  me  when  1  saw  yon— 
30  his  people  say.  Ay ! 
his  lordship,  one  ot  his 
lej;  pardon,  Mr.  George: 
er  was  always  respected 

moment  when  the  fatal 

d,  alarmed. 

ry,  hard  voice.    "What 


••  They  say  he  has  gone  oft  with  papers  worth  hundreds  of  thou- 
siinds  ot'pounds. " 

"  It's  a  lie!"  said  the  young  man. 

Tlien  suddenly  checking  hfmsdt  and  recovering  his  dianity,  ho 
made  a  tremendous  etlort  to  subdue  the  violeul  llame  in  liis  eyes  and 
tlie   terrible  contraction   his   features  had  undergone  us  lie  utiered 

the  di-nial.  ,  ,      ,^,        .        , 

"  Sinip«on,"  said  George  Barton,  solemnly,  and  with  u  forced 
urntleness  of  tone  and  munnci,  "  my  latlicr  is  dead." 
"  Dv  a  fecstiire  he  showed  the  servant  his  hat,  which  bore  a  broad 
niouniinirbaiid.  ,     .,     ,, 

•'  Dead!"  exclaimed  the  old  man.  "  Mr.  Rnrton  dead!  It  can  t 
be.  Mr.  George.  AVIiv  only  an  hour  ago,  as  tliu  Kail  of  Solby  were 
filking  there,  at  tlio  loot  ot  the  staircase,  with  Sir  Alfred  .Marks,  Sir 
Allied  says,  '  Heard  anything  of  your  steward  yet,  my  lord?'  And 
the  earl  says,  '  No,  d-n  HUn.  1  expect  he's  in  Spain  by  this  time. 

"  Il'm,''  said  George  llarton,  irrimly,  halt  to  himself,  "  Lord 
Sell)V  also  has  his  cJoitavix  m  Espugne .'  lie  does  not  know  that 
mv  father  is  dead,  eh?"  ,      . 

■"  Wlio  is  Ihiit  talking  so  freely  about  Lord  Selby?  snid  a  sharp, 
clear-toned  voice,  as  the  thick  curtains  were  thrust  aside  by  a  nerv- 
ous hand,  while  n  loin:,  thin,  anil  strangely  powerful  face  was  pushed 
forward,  and  two  keen  gray  eves  peered  into  the  hall;  one  ot  tliose 
faces  which  carry  the  marks  ofathousaucisiorms,  a  thousand  varied 
experiences- of  passions  dead,  of  passions  still  airlow,  ot  intellect 
worn  and  weary,  of  intellect  still  quick  and  active,  of  faded  hopes 
and  living  ambitions,  of  desires  extinct,  ot  iieslres  unsatiated— wllh 
coolness,  reserve,  audacity,  haulenr,  slirew-dness,  torce,  all  shown 
together;  in  the  gray  eyes,  wllh  their  corners  drawn  down  by  a  net- 
work of  wrinkles;  in  the  full  lips,  round  whose  edges  played  sucli  a 
varitly  of  expressions;  in  the  long,  deep,  narrow  chin,  whose  point 
carried  a  tliiu  gray  tuft;  in  tlie  tall  forehead  and  high  arched  head, 
sparsely  covered  wllli  gray  hairs  carefully  barbcred;  while  across 
the  forehead  tlrere  ran  delicate  horizontal  lines,  wlilch  changed  and 
ciiilvered  at  the  emotions  of  the  spirit  within.  Young  Barloa  did 
not  reijuire  to  study  that  face.  He  had  known  it  from  Ids  infancy. 
It  had  a  stranije  charm  tor  him,  though  he  had  never  been  able  to 
regard  It  with  confidence  or  aflection,  though  ho  could  not  but  ad- 
mire its  force  and  even  majesty,  and  though  it  was  tlie  counteiinnee 
ot  his  most  noble  nnd  respectable  godfather  which  now  appeared  so 
suddenly  before  him. 

The  earl,  by  a  quick  movement,  parted  the  curtains  and  loon  a 
step  forward.  Like  lightning  his  eye  had  taken  In  the  figure  ot 
George  Barton,  who,  thunder-struck,  nevertheles,^  by  an  instinctive 
movement  made  a  bow  and  drew  himself  up.  _ 

Everything  about  this  extraordinary  peer,  his  perceptions,  his 
tlioughts,  his  judgments,  his  decisions,  seemed  to  have  the  quick- 
ness and  vivacity  ot  lightning.  In  an  instant  his  face  passed  through 
a  marvelous  variety  ot  expressions—astonishment,  anger,  scorn;  then 
it  assumed  a  sudden  gentleness  and  urbanity.  . 

"  You  here,  George  JSarlonV"  he  said,  modulatinsr  Ins  voice,  and 
making  it  almost  paternal  and  caressing.  "  How  are  you?  Have 
you  come  to  give  me  some  Kood  news  about  your  father? 


80 


\   wr.r.K   oi'    PASSION. 


;i  ji' 


..  T  rinn't  know   mv  lord,  how  vou  will  coiiBlfler  it.  wheilier  gomi 
nrll"  reSrUi^vou  «   mnn.  in  ..  pt-culiar  tone;  "''f^'-l'e 

'"^.^i:;.rcd«n£i^'^'' Al^you  sum  of  this,    now  do  you 

''""m'v  lord-tlK!  imfortnnale  person  who-wastlie  cnusi-  ot  the  ac 
oLIpnt  to  the  Farl  ot  Tilhury-the  myMerions  lu-ison  who- 
•''''' Stav!"ntmupte.l  the  ^cer.  putMn^  hi«  Imml  «"    '^ 'J.'Tnto    he 
vouiig  man.     "  W«  will  not  talk  here.     Co.no  with  mi-  into  the 

^"in'tliia  attitude,  halt  faraillarly  he  dre^v  young  Barton  between 
the  cur  ains  Suddenly  he  Btopred.  released  the  younj;  man  s  arm, 
„ nil  n  t  his  head  hack  Into  tlie  hall  tor  an  instant. 

••  S  r  nson   I  am  enfingpd.     L.t  no  on,-  disturh  us   n  the  library. 

A^iiried  the  way.  this  time  without  approuching  '  ^  v^itor 
nnrton  who  caucht  a  side  Rlnnce  of  his  t»ce.  could  see  that  it  «as 
Pi^lhZt  witli  cSctin«  emotions,  and  he  nerved  himset  forapain- 
?^  oft  ,re  k  n"  u  w  that  it  would  bo  no  holiday  play  to  break 
a  anci  with  o,  e  ot  the  most  redoubtable  social  am.  intellectual 
Pi  nmnions  in  F.nL'land.  ft  man  who  had  sat  at  the  Forei-n  Olflce. 
aKHis  ownKvith  Gorlchakoft,  with  Bunsen  and  Cavour  and 

^'when'uiev  had  entered  tlie  room,  and  Barton,  coming  second 
.    V  1  .=  rt  tL  .loor  tlic  earl   wlio  marched  a  few  slow  steps  in  the 
^}f  nln  ot   ho  minte  S^  with  his  head  .lown  and  Ids  hands  in 
hrnock."       u.Men  V  Sieeled  round,  and  fixing  the  young  man 
witirhis  gray  eves  rtashlnir,  sai.l,  as  if  he  would  draw  an  avowal  out 

''^'.'K  GeTrgrClon: -Jy  I  ask  you  what  the  devil  you  want 

''*'ti!o  vounc  man's  eve  did  not  flinch  for  a  moment  from  the  cM-le 
ci  Jnce  wroh  was  fixed  upon  him.  On  tlie  contrary  his  dark  orbs, 
g  ance  w  iio  i  ^"*  "^  V,  ense  if  apparently  more  subdued  flame  than 
KK  1  e  e^rl-s  eem  d  to  seTch  the^acc  before  hinri  steadily. 
St  e  were  resolved  to  penetrate  behind  the  mask  and  read  the 
louiwUhin.  But  that  mask  was  inscrutable.  He  was.  how- 
pver°eml)arrass(d,  lor  lie  (tid  not  reply.  ... 

'' Is  vwir  tongue  tied?''  cri.d  the  earl,  impatiently.  ; 

••Kiveme  earl,"  said  the  voung  man.  bowing  with  dlK.iity. 

*°  -  GcS  Barton  dead,  you  say.  and  in  so  absurd  a  manner?  1 
can  nrbelieve  it!  What  does  this  mean?  Is  this  a  ma«q"era1e 
n?  mo  irnin '  and  is  it  possible  you  are  assisting  in  a  comedy  ot  de- 
^I^nnn?  Your  father's  disappearance  is  one  ot  the  most  evlraordi- 
'^^Inw^terir^l  ever  heard  of.  He  was  to  liave  met  me  in  Portman 
Sqlr^on  mrretura  from  Selby,  on  business  ot  vital  importance  to 


1 

b 
1 

y 


c 
a 

b 
a 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


81 


ler  it.  whedier  good 
r  tone;  "but  "—he 
In  lil«  nnguish,  niul 

Ihii?    How  do  you 

the  cnnsc  ot  the  oc- 
I'lson  who—" 
111  on  the  arm  ot  the 
e  with  mi-  into  the 

mg  Burton  between 
e  yoiinj;  man's  arm, 
nt. 

•1)  us  in  the  library." 
rouchinj,'  his  visitor. 
:oul(l  see  tliat  it  wns 
L'dhimselt  forapiiin- 
oliduy  play  to  brealc 
cial  ami  intellectual 
,  the  Foreign  Olflce, 
sen  au'J  Cavour  and 

ton,  coming  second, 
ew  slow  steps  in  tlie 
wn  and  his  liamls  in 
:ing  the  young  man, 
1  draw  an  avowal  out 

at  the  devil  you  want 

oment  from  the  ci\!,'le 
ntrary,  his  dark  orbs, 
•e  auluiued  flame  than 
;  before  him  steadily, 
le  mask  and  read  the 
table.     Ele  was,  how- 

iliently. 

bowing  with  dldiiity, 
y  last  niijht  that  1  ac- 
s  victim  of  the  awtul 
to-day." 

touched  by  the  young 
e  delivered  it.  but  the 
ixpression  ot  sarcastic 

absurd  a  manner?  I 
Ts  this  a  masquerade 
ng  in  a  comedy  of  de- 
ot  the  most  evtraordi- 
ve  met  me  in  Portman 
1  ot  vital  importance  to 


me.  He  never  camn.  You  came  to  mo  on  Thursday  night,  and 
told  me  that  cock-aDdbuU  story  ftbouf  his  engagement  to  dine  with 
you  at '  ThcHalnbow.'and  his  failure  to  put  in  iin  appearance.  1  bet 
the  detectives  at  work.  Not  a  trace  ot  him  has  Iwen  found.  What 
can  1  Buppose?  1  have  not  seen  you  gince.  \Vh«f  have  you  Ijcen 
doing?  You  seem  to  have  been  keejiimr  very  (luiet.  Now  you  sud- 
denly turn  up— wrapped  in  conventional  gloom— and  tell  me  that 
your  father,  R^  steady  and  unromantic  a  man  as  overlived,  has  been 
t.e.slroyKl,  blown  to  pieces  beyond  all  possibility  ol  idcntillcation,  in 
a  sensational  pyrotechnic  flare-up  in  llegent's  Circus!  ^Vhal  does 
tills  mean,  I  say?  ]s  this  to  throw  me  oil  the  right  scent?  If  so,  1  am 
only  astounded  at  your  simplicity.  If  you  imagine  that  I  am  to  be 
hoodwinked  by  such  tactics  you  are  liardly  worthy  of  your  character 
as  my  godson,  on  which  you  are  unfortunately  able  to  pi<iue  jour- 
selr." 

The  young  man,  though  atung  by  the  cnlculoted  severity  and  even 
brutality  of  this  address,  mastered  his  anger  by  a  powcrlul  elTort, 
and  fixed  his  attention  on  tlie  earl's  manner  and  expression  as  he  de- 
livered it.  lie  was  trying  to  penetrate  tlie  motive  of  this  severity. 
AVas  it  sincere  or  was  it  assumed?  His  face  Hushed  deeply,  but  he 
replie<l  in  quiet,  though  tremulous  tones,  and  with  a  dignity  of  man- 
ner that  sensibly  put  tlie  earl  in  the  wrong: 

"  My  lord,  that  was  a  distinction  which  was  conferred  upon  me 
at  a  period  when  1  had  no  discretion  eillier  to  accept  it  or  reject  it; 
it  was  one  emanating  trcm  your  own  good  feeling  and  apprecialion 
of  uiy  father,  and  which  1  had  learned  to  regard  as  one  of  the  signal 
honors  ot  my  life.  I  bIiouUI  be  sorry  it  anything  occurred  to 
diminish  the  ardor  with  which  I  have  sought  to  be  worthy  of  it,  or 
the  pride  with  which  1  have  cherished  it.  But  1  must  observe  that 
your  lordship  does  a  gross  injustice  to  the  person  wiioni  he  eelected 
for  such  a  distinction  when  he  imagines  him  capable,  even  to  save 
a  dearly-loved  father  from  the  consequences  of  his  acts,  of  being 
knowingly  a  party  to  an  attempt  to  deceive  or  defraud  you." 

The  young  man's  voice,  trembling  at  first  under  the  violence  of 
the  emotions  he  was  bravely  struggling  to  suppress,  grew  firmer  as 
he  went  on,  and  his  last  words  were  accompanied  by  a  look  and 
attitude  that  made  a  profound  impnssion  on  the  pcei,  wliose  nature 
was  chivalric,  it  his  passion  or  his  egotism  often  got  the  better  of  it. 

His  nr.anner  softened  as  he  replied,  in  gentler  tones, 

"  Well,  George,  1  did  not  intend  to  have  spoken  so  harshly;  but 
1  am  really  utterly  l)ewildered  and  upset  by  this  business.  I  may 
be  wrong— I  will  admit  it  for  the  moment,  and  recall  my  words. 
Let  it  pass.  Sit  down  and  tell  me  what  is  this  horrible  information 
you  have  brought  me?" 

"  My  lord,  1  tell  you  frankly,  I  did  not  come  here  to  see  you."     - 

'Eh?  You  didn't  come  here  to  see  me?  Who  the  deuce  did  you 
come  to  see,  then?"  cried  the  peer,  set  oil  again  by  this  inopportune 
avowal. 

George  Barton  bit  his  lip,  for  tlie  words  were  not  outot  his  mouth 
before  he  saw  that  be  had  made  a  serious  tactical  mistake.  He 
avoided  a  confession. 

"  Your  lordship  forgets,"  liesaid,  "  that,  thanks  to  your  kindness 
and  the  open  and  generous  spirit  of  Lord  Tilbury,  1  was  on  a  foot* 


89 


A     WEKK    OF    PAMIOS. 


l.,.'of  tho  closest  inlimuoy  with  lilm.     I  'li.\  not  ihink  I  was  pre 

.1    ,  .    „r  f„.i,..r  WIS  d.'inl''     i;iiV     l>t  voiir  motlK-T  iiwnro  ot  ihiaJ 
'•'^H    ••■     r(   -orue      utolu  h  un.l  .■o.,fusc..l.     •' 1  Imvc  ^ 

K   though  1  Unow  Shi,  13  In  a  tc. rlhl.  slate  ot  anxiety. 

•■siK'  h:is  hotli  wrilleu  and  t.^le^'mphed  to  ine.^  snl.l  the  earl; 
"  ami  I  renlieil  .w  kmilly  ami  sooihinuly  as  1  could. 

■'  I  thank  v<^u,  n.v  lord,'  said  IJaiton.  with  jvnrn  Ih.  That  is 
A  1-imlX  wor  V  ot  vou!  1  ^'as  g.-iu-  to  sav  1  wi.h  the  pi  oofs  to 
fj  nu  "if more  r  m plete  hefore  I  trll  h.  r  the  dreadful  truth.". 

Th,  arl  slmT  dH  head  with  u  Koleinn  and  dlssatislle<l  nil.  arid 
evStlie  you  «"'««<■'''"  "'"ler  his  hnlt-elosed  eyeli.ls  more  keenlv 
au  c  riS  I'an  ever.  Luckily  for  George  Barton  tbe  peer  s 
v?va^av  o   t  mm-ht  led  h.ni  at  the  moment  to  el"'nge  the  su hject 

•' llv  the  wav  will  you  tell  me.  Harlon."  he  said,  "what  you 
^ere  sWng  ahout  n.c  to  one  ot  the  hall  servants  \ou  8;;7«h  Jo 
iTp  ras  nc  Fiencli  iwarls  before  old  Simpson,  and  if  1  lieard  aright 

1  CO  "d  not  e  P  it;  it  was  all  1  .lid  heai.  1  assure  you-you  were 
;;nne  "ting  my  mine  in  a  sarcastic  manner  w.lh  8pn.u-a  country  1 

'^^-Forclve  me.  mv  lord;  it  was  an  indiscretion.  1  was  rcnlly 
ii.inkin.f  nln.  Pimi>son  had  overlioanl  yon  say  something  not 
IpI^-  IniS      ntav^^^^^^      mvtather  to  Sir  Alfred  IMarlcs  "-  the 

^rtdiSs-'Hu  winch  1  consider  yor.r  lordship  is  mistaken.  It  was 
unfortunate  vou  sliould  have  overheard  It. 

"Well  well-sai.l  the  peer,  who  had  been  rapid  y  rcllecing 
^.hlle  t he  >o.  ■'  man  spoke,  and  had  suddenly  decided  Jo  adopt 
cemlet  tactic  han  he  had  hitherto  employe.!,  tor  be  ^^•«^.•nward  y 
Sf ulKvV/'''-  I'v  <>>«  visil  nml  the  visitor's  mannc  .  \  ou  are 
yoanj,,  anil  i  '  •  ,       ,.  novice,  as  yo\ir  god- 

;Xr' an  an  o  d  m  .1  ^ftlte  world,  an.t  it  is  this-never  open  your 
.n.^onnnv  subject  whatever  to  a  menial      Never  waste  a  thougl 

V  send  n.  il  .iown  to  the  scullery  with  the  broken  meat,  wliere  it 
,;tuhP  thrown  to  the  do-s,  Never  make  a  confidant  ot  a  man 
Ssvvm  own  sti  on  in  intelligence.  Never  give  a  s,•r^.mt  a 
chance  ot  picking  vour  brains  or  guessing  your  secrets,  an.l  never 
Xw  a  servant  tS  tell  vou  the  secrets  of  otliers  For  every  unit  you 
i^banee  to  .'"in  in'tbe  course  of  a  lite-timeby  disregar.lmg  these 
nnlimsot  an  .)lacvidc.  vou  will  lose  a  h.uulred  units  in  .bgmty. 
Tsd"  esteem  ami  n  v-ur  control  over  the  condition,  of  your  o(vu 
insett-esieem   ami       ,         ,,,.,„  ^.,„,     And  now  tell  me  what  have 

w.  ^earneir  Whiu  is  i,  you  wish  me  to  believe  about  your  father 
audi  this  horrible  mystery  in  the  Circus? 

"  1  rp«llv  iinil  sincerelv  do  not  wish  you  to  accept  anytiimg  from 
me  my  ffi.  a  rePS tl'e «>'"3ect.  It  ^as the cldef  ot  U- detect  ve 
Tl;,^L^n  who  fast  ni'-ht  "ave  me  reasous-which.  alas!  I  teel  to 
beSMoo  win  toitldedlrio,  believing  that  my  father  hu8  beea 


HI 
tl 

to 


si 
w 

"I 

.1; 
(Ii 

til 

sli 
he 
ot 

so 

8h 

scl 

en 
Lc 

Fi'; 

s!i] 
su; 

eyi 

lOE 

dci 
8p< 

Re 

(tes 

Sir 

we 

she 

of 

tioi 

ivL 

\ui\ 

to  I 

lift 

I 

tiv( 

cal! 
rigl 
all 


A    \vi:i;k    or    I'a.-jsio.n. 


33 


Kit  think  I  was  pre- 
I'Oiiilition  uiiiler  tlio 

I'O  siitisiled  ynurst'U 
icT  iiwiiro  ot  l\m'l" 
•oiifiisi"!.     "  1  Imvc  ■ 
it  I  Imve  IwitDiid  to 
iinxiuty." 
nie,"  sftid  the  earl; 

wnrmlU.  "  Tliiit  is 
I  wi«li  the  pioots  to 
LMulfiil  truth." 
(llssiilistkMl  nil,  nnd 
1  eyelids  more  lieeiily 
re  Hiirton  the  peer's 
ilmngc  tlio  Biihject. 
lit!  stiiil.  "  wlml  you 
jts?  You  seemed  to 
imd  if  1  lieard  aright 
ssure  you— you  were 
ii  Spain— u  country  1 

■etion.  1  WHS  really 
n  say  sometliiii);  not 
Alfred  Marlw  "-  tlie 
xpleiive  to  Simpson's 
is  mtstalien.     It  was 

•en  rapidly  relied  ing 
sniv  decided  lo  adopt 

tor  he  wiis  inwardly 
i  mnnnc  .  "  You  are 
i)U.     We  will  say  no 

ndvice,  as  your  god- 
tliis— never  open  your 
<ever  waste  b  thouglit 
jrolcen  meat,  wliere  it 
a  confidant  of  a  man 
ever  give  a  servant  a 
nur  secrets,  and  never 
s.  For  every  unit  you 
e  hy  disregarding  tliese 
idred  units  in  dignity, 
londilion:,  of  your  own 
iw  tell  me  what  have 
lieve  about  your  father 

nccept  anvthing  from 
lecliietottlie  Detective 
—which,  alusl  I  teel  to 
at  my  father  lius  been 


made  the  victim  of  one  of  tlie  foulest  aiul  most  horrible  murderi 
tiiiit  I'Ver  vvas  cDinmittHd." 

The  earl  startcil,  nnd  cast  a  iiicrcing  look  nt  the  voimg  man,  )Us 
eyes  expressed  a  siiildei)  trouble  and  iuirror,  o(  whicli  Ids  o'jserver 
took  note. 

"  .Miirilers!"  he  said,  with  a  )>eetillftr,  long-drawn  Intonation. 
'A  murder,  I);irton,  In  IJegeiit  Circus,  in  dayliglit,  and  in  such 
strange  ('ii-f'umstiuiccs!  You  aie  half  out  of  your  mind.  1  don't 
Wdudfr  at  It;  and  the  detective  is  a  dreamer  and  an  as.*,!  i  >epend 
upon  it.  wlioeviM'  the  man  was  wlio  was  blown  to  atoms  on  Tliurs- 
(liiy  last  in  llii'  Circus,  it  was  a  case  r)t  suicide.  Had  youi  father, 
(li>  you  know  or  suspect,  any  motive  for  comndtting  suK^idc?" 

As  he  put  this  (|iu'sii()n,  the  call  teuucd  forward  and  keenly  scru> 
tiniM'd  iIk!  young  man's  face, 

ticoix'e  Marlon's  eye  did  not  blcnirh;  it  was  full  of  n  strange  nnd 
startled  liiiht,  A  slight  shudder  hud  passed  tlirough  his  frame,  and 
Lc  drew  a  long  breath,  foi  the  words,  [\w  movements,  tlio  emoliou 
of  tlie  iMci  hud  sent  a  sudden  and  uwtul  conviction  through  liis 
soul!  Why  had  the  eirl  started  at  llio  word  "  murder  "?  Why 
should  lie  argue  for  suicide-?  llowevct,  lie  nuist  command  liiiu- 
self.     He  rejiiied  to  the  peer's  last  iiuestion, 

"  !None,  niv  lord  1  urn  as  .satlstied  of  that  ns  of  my  own  exist- 
ence. No  one  knows  that  belti  r  tliiin  your  lordship,  lie  was  up  in 
London  on  your  business— he  was  here  lo  discliurge  a  giave  and 

fiiuntul  duly — on  your  liehalf— not  his  own— and  no  man  that  ever 
ived  was  less  liliely  than  my  loved  and  honored  lather  lo  have 
slirunk  trom  his  responsibilities,  or  to  have  sought  by  a  cowardly 
suicide  to  evade  them." 

A  Hush  tnuciied,  with  a  tleeliiiir  color,  the  earl's  pale  cheek;  his 
eyes  seemed  to  change  trom  gray  to  green  us  George  Barton's  voice 
lose  to  loudness  nnd  vehemence. 

"Mot  so  loud,!  pray  you'"  he  said.  "  Y'ou  know  I  am  not 
deaf.  Hut  tell  me,  please,  what  are  those  iiroofs  ot  which  you 
Speak,  wiiicli  the  sagacious  Sontat;  has  so  mysteriously  unearthed." 

"  Ten  minutes  before  the  catastroDhe  my  father  was  in  a  shop  in 
Regent  Street,  wliere  he  had  culled  l^or  u  watch  whicli  he— which  he 
destined  tor  me."  lie  paused  Irom  (Muotion.  "  lie  went  up  llegent 
Street.  Xi  the  time  he  hud  o-i  him  a  watcli  which  you  remember 
Well,  for  you  gave  it  to  hi'ii."  The  earl  noddeU,  iiiul  his  face 
showed  an  intense  inter(fst.  "  It  was  one  of  Frodsliam's.  A  piece 
of  the  face  ot  that  watch  has  been  found.  It  was  found  in  a  posi- 
tion wliich  leaves  no  shadow  of  doubt  tliat  it  came  from  a  watch 
whicli  was  on  the  victim  at  tlie  lime  ot  the  explosion.  Again,  1 
have  examined  the  hand  wiiicli  is  at  Scotland  Yard.  1  am  prepared 
to  swear  it  is  my  father's  hand,  lie  had  a  slight  deformity  in  the 
little  linirer." 

"  My  dear  George,"  said  tlie  enri,  "  1  knew  him  tor  over  twenty- 
five  years,  and  this  is  the  tlisl  lune  1  ever  heard  of  it." 

'  It  was  scarcely  noticeable  unless  B])ecial  attention  had   been 

called  to  it.     See,  my  lord,  do  you  observe  anything  unusual  in  my 

right  hand,  as  I  hoid  it  and  move  it— so?    No.     But  I  straighten 

all  my  tiugeis.     Now  you  observe  that  the  Inst  little  linger-joint  re- 

8 


A 


WKKK     OV    I'ASHIOX. 


1  Itxhorlt  tlmt  p«culli\r- 


84 

m..lMS  nt  nn  mi^'lo  to  tlio  plnno  of  my  imlm. 

••  Hut.  OeorK'C.    »nM  '"^  i;*";.    ,'    'g,„iiiv  lotrlnil  im.t  cxci'llHit. 

ThiK  iM  a  (irctiin,  iv  tiincy .  >  •''>;'."'  V  n  Th.  v'  ..u;  Immul  to 
c.,uri.a  uw.y  l.V  t  mi  !'>';;  ,,^:'''  ,.; ,  e'lrml  .bun  I  .lu." 
L-el  up  80I1U!  theory,  ^oi'i  "''"\ '„"„,,.  „,,,„  Uiiil  your  tluwy 
*■  ..iwoul.l  nUl>er  he  v eve  ''^  ";  .•^.''l^^rve  run  itwav  from 
wcrecorro.M.  Georu'e  '»'^^  ''\  '>''',;,'',  S,.uin  or  ..Isuwhere. 
v„„,  or  with  nny  piii.cis  of  V^''";  1  f  on.  iho  niuurc  ot  tliO 
Vo.    know,  fro...  thi.  '^*"^'V'f  ?'^^"'\       v.r    ."  .  ."king  't^uy  with 

s«i.l,  "Will  P'ohuhfy  «"\^'^'--  .^'«/fe'!^^,  1.1  have  h.ul  ...ore 
tn,Ke.1y  in  that  »* '"^"'^.•-''''„,  J"  .jo  o  m^^^  '"'l  I  forgive  you; 
si.n»e  thi.n  to  mala-  s.ich  ""  "' ^7"^,'  '"  ,  "^  w.;  have  spoileil  you 
yo..  .irey<.un.tl  «''^'"''''l'"'''"^';'i'Iu  That  the  privlli",,'ed  ot  a 
i;  Utile,  'l  «'r'''\"^^^.hl  u^  '•   "y  presumption  to 

godson  .10  not  ""'^^'^  *°  If  "r.e  s  poo  ol  the  iealn..  In  any 
f,l8  godfather,  especially  when  Its  '^ '  'J^'      ,       „,„  r,j,m.r  stilted 

case'  ,nay  I  he  P^""'"'''  '" ';^K  "S  \oward  me  .lurin,  this  in- 
;^l,;X,^t^>^.ramE^TiuL^V     i>e.hapsyou  have 

date  ot  delivery.    It  was  the  23d  of  June. 
"  You  have  seen  a  «■«<:«•?•/  ^^^,0  ^heii  he  was 


!  papers  nad  the 


A    WEEK    OF    fA'SIfiX. 


85 


iprlt  Umt  p«cullivr- 

Iml." 

c  young  niiin,  wltU 

;lln«  nnil  suspicion 
lent  iiiKl  fX't'Hi'"'- 
llillitv.  Do  not  he 
Tluv'iiH!  Iii'uiul  to 

(1   tl'lllU  I  II. u." 

1  tliiil  Yi'Uf  tli(!nry 
•wr  run  iiwuy  from 
imin   or  clsuwhort'. 
iU(!  niuuro  ot  llic 
iimUiiiL'  iiwiiy  with 
ihicli,  1  venture  to 
ply  to  assist  mo  to 
ly  unilcr  wliosu  roof 
I  soliilion." 
1  Hoinc;  olIiiT  CIIU80, 
y,    Thcrowiis  soiue- 
Innnoyeilliim  kccri- 
)ung  miiu.  will)  lu'pt 
the  peer's  gelf-coni- 
l  in  11  steiiily  voice, 

liul  of  Tilbury,"  he 
ut  ot  any  domestic 
iiild  hiive  li!«l  more 
;  l)ul  I  forgive  you; 
we  have  siioiled  you 
t  the  privileges  ot  ii 
86  or  presumption  to 
the  realm.  In  any 
fess  the  ratlur  stilted 
n\  me  during  this  in- 
ires  me— will  you,  I 
)  know  thiit  such  ini- 
Teihnps  you  have 

iicre  they  are,  though 
linnaed  them  over  to 

'leam  ot  liirht  tlasheil 
0  Pollard  'A:  Pollard? 

,t?" 

Ing  the  papers  nud  the 

■e  aware,  when  he  was 
ghisquaiters." 
ig  his  anxiety.  "  your 
my  business— to  you? 


"Pardon  mo,  mv  lord,  1  have  no  hosilallon  In  an««\cilng  Ihc 
niicMtlon  Irankly.  For  llie  piisl  two  vers  there  have  ht-eu  no  wcrels 
lletween  mv  lather  and  me.  lie  di-' ussed  all  his  linsineds  cmll 
(h'ntiallv  w'llh  mo,  wideli  In  tn  siiv  iil  oiu  tnwlntss.  It  may  have 
Im'.->  an' indiscretion,  hut  I  would  fiiii.  -ope  It  wiii.  nol  a  dhhonorn 
lile  one.  You  will  rerncniher,  your  lor.Nliip  eneourajed  us  to  hope 
that  1  nilirhl  siieeeed  my  lather  In  tlie  posillon  ol  your  acenl.  le 
Houeht  to  initiate  rxie  into  the  Im-iness  of  the  post  whieh  il  was  his 
amhition,  though  I  conless  it  wa.',  not  altogether  mine,  lliat  1  should 

•'  Do  you  mean  to  tell  nu!,"»aiil  the  carl,  excitedly,  "  that  your 
father  conlhleil  to  you  the  <lctails  of  mv  secret  peiaonul  and  family 
allalrs?  If  >ou  really  suppose  your  falhi'r  to  he  deeeased,  are  vou 
wlllln"  for  some  ohjeet  ot  yoin'  nwn,  to  hlucKcn  his  memory  to  his 
emplov'rr,  as  a  IrUHlwoiihy  and  discreet  man  of  liiisiness?  I  never 
should  have  lielloved  this  ot  George  IJarton  had  I  not  heard  It  from 

his  son!"  ,       ,  ,  ,     ,1  , 

The  peer  had  begun  to  move  neivously  about  the  room,  for  llii» 
Informiitinn  h'ld  evidently  troubled  him,  but  suddenly  recollecting 
himself,  he  sat  down  wllh  a  loreed  air  ot  Indillerence. 

•■  Mv  lord,"  said  young  llarlon,  "  1  am  sorry  If  you  teel  inchuKl 
to  blame  mv  poor  father  for  placmg  loo  much  conlldencein  his  son. 
His  condiu't  is,  perhaps,  open  to  critieisrw.  Hut  he  felt  that  lie 
could  trust  his  conlldant  (as  1  humbly  venture  to  assure  you  he 
could  Implicilly).  and  he  really  ot  laie  seemed  to  teel  the  need  of 
some  second  person  to  lean  on  and  advise  with,  no  great  were  his 
anxieties,  and  so  overwhelming  the  responsibilities  of  Ids  position, 
You  must  remember  that  lie  was,  unlortunalely,  i)laced  in  asilua- 
tion  in  which  he  became,  In  a  sense,  the  tiuslee,  or  depositary  ot 
olhev  Interests  than  yours— a  situation  treated  by  yourself,  In  which 
il  was  impossible  for  liim,  as  a  mau  i>t  honor,  to  look  only  to  his 
duty  to  you  as  his  employer.  You  know  that  he  was  a  man  who. 
in  It'll  ho  did,  constantly  lioie  in  miiul  the  uncertainties  of  lile,  and 
was  always  trying  !o  lake  precautions  to  jirevent  tliem  fri>m  injur- 
ing any  of  the  inleresis  eonhded  to  his  care.  Tliis  peculiarity,  mnuy 
who  had  business  transactions  witli  him  thouultt  he  carried  lo  ex- 
cess The  bufiness  you  speak  ot  was  Ihe  most  troublesome,  ills- 
a'Teeiible,  and  imporlant  of  his  lite.  It  welglied  ti|>on  his  mind 
aiid  depressed  Ills  spirilK  He  deemed  il  a  speiMal  duly  iu  that  case 
to  lake  special  precautions— for  he  had  lost  all  conlldence  in  Pol- 
lard A  Pollard— that,  iu  Ihe  event  of  any  sudden  calamity— tliomrh 
he  could  not  possibly  have  fore.sten  anylhinu  .so  dreadful  as  that 
which  has  actually  occurred— some  one  should  be  in  a  iiosition  to 
see  that  no  ones  interest  should  sulTer  by  his  death,  especially  those 
ot  his  friend  and  mine.  Lord  Tilbury,  or  those  of  the  coimless,  who 
has  always  treated  my  fattier  and  his  family  with  such  kindness  and 
consideration."  ,  ,     ,     ,     i  ■ 

The  earl  had  not  lost  a  word,  though  he  seemed  to  lie  looking 
over  and  bevoncf  the  young  man  Into  same  far  di.siance,  while  Ihe 
latter  was  speaking.  'He  started,  as  it  from  a  reveri?,  when  (ieorge 
IJarton  hart  finished,  but  he  remaineil  still  wrapped  ir;  thought,  with 
his  hands  crossed  liehind  his  head,  lie  seemed  to  be  pursuiUK  some 
train  of  thouehl  which  h;id  suddenly  been  suggested  to  mm,  to  be 


36 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION". 


revolving  some  unseltled  iihi.;  tor  once  or  twice  he  opened  his  lips 
to  speak,  nnd  quicUly  shut  tlioin  again.  Then,  taking  down  his 
hands,  he  spoke  quietly,  and  with  an  appearance,  at  least,  of  cor- 
diality. 

"  George, "  uc  said,  "what  you  have  just  told  mo  conges  upoa 
ine  as  a  surpi-ise.  1  was  not  aware  (hat  lliere  was  another  creature 
living,  except  your  talher,  the  Bolicitors,  and  m3'8elf,  who  knew 
anything  ot  the  exceedingly  grave  aflairs  to  which  you  allude.  If 
hehas,  indeed,  conthlcd  ail  the  particulars  to  you,  yon  must  know 
what  1  mean  by  qualifying  them  in  tliose  terms."  George  Barton 
.  bowed.  "  AVell,  it  may  be  tor  the  best  after  all.  For  the  moment  1 
am  unable  to  judge.  You  are  young  and  iuexperieuced.  1  must 
reflect.  I  must  seek  for  further  intormaliou.  1  am  in  the  Lauds  of 
Pollard  &  I'oUard." 

"  Unhappily,  my  lord!" 

The  winds  suddenly  escaped  from  the  young  man's  lips  before  he 
bad  taken  time  to  think. 

The  ear)  threw  a  glance  ot  irritation  at  him,  which,  however,  he 
immediately  suppressed,  and  resuming  his  calmness  ot  look  and 
speeeb.  went  on: 

"  Well,  you  can  understand  the  delicacy  ot  my  position.  Your 
father  was  arraniring  to  relieve  me  trom  it,  at  a  great  sacrilice  to  me 
which  1  was  anxious  and  willing  to  make.  The  means  ot  doing  it 
were  in  his  hands.  They  Jiave  disappeared  with  him — unless,"  said 
the  earl,  his  lace  suddenly  lighlenini;— "  unless  the  papers  are  at 
your  cliambers." 

"  They  are  not,  my  lord,"  said  George  Barton,  with  decision.  '  1 
have  already  told  you  that  Ihey  arc  at  Pollard  «k  Pollard's." 

"  Humph!"  said  the  earl,  thinking  aloud.  "  The  m\-stery  thick- 
ens.    You  aie  certain  you  have  seen  the  receipt?" 

"  Absolutely  certain,  ray  lord.  A  sort  of  co.jy  of  it  is  in  a  place 
ot  security  known  only  to  me.  1  had  it  in  my  hands  this  morning. 
Jly  father  had  the  original  on  him  on  Thursday  when  he  left  the 
Temple  to  meet  you." 

The  earl's  mind  was  evidently  working  at  some  hidden  problem, 
for  he  had  spoken,  and  continued  to  speak,  absently  and  mechanic- 
ally. 

"  You  are  certain  you  have  it?  Humph!  well,  that  requires  ex- 
planation. I  am  more  puzzled  than  ever.  It  is  like  a  maze— one 
rtnds  an  iii./'osne  at  every  turn.  What  could  he  gain  by  disappear- 
ing? He  could  do  nothing  with  the  bonds.  Pollards  say  his  ac- 
counts nuist  be  in  disorder. " 

"  They  lie,  my  lord,"  said  George  Barton. 

The  earl  bridled  at  this  lude  interruption. 

"  Strong  woids  ore  a  mistake,  George,  except  on  very  rare  occa- 
sions." 

"  This  is  one,  my  lord.  Forgive  me,  but  1  can  not  hear  a  word, 
from  any  one  whatever,  which  either  directly  or  remotely  attacks 
my  father's  honor." 

"  \Vell— 1  can  not  blame  you— 1  must  take  time  to  IhinK  this 
over.  Gracious  heavens!  AVliere  is  your  father?  "Why  has  he  dis- 
appeared? All  this  has  profoundly  troubled,  harried,  upset  me.  We 
can  do  no  good  by  talking  turlhe'i  at  this  (nomeut.  If  you  have  any 


tmdm 


on. 

twice  be  opened  his  lips 
Tben,  taking  down  liis 
(caiance,  at  least,  of  cor- 
net told  me  coir.es  upon 
ere  WHS  another  creuluro 
and  myself,  who  l;new 
to  which  you  allude.  It 
,  to  you,  you  must  know 
terms."  George  Barton 
[■r  all.  Vov  the  moment  1 
d  inexperienced.  1  must 
on.    1  am  in  the  hands  or 

■oung  man's  lips  before  he 

him,  which,  however,  he 
Uis  calmness  ot  look  ami 

cy  ot  my  position.  Your 
it,  at  a  great  sacrilice  to  me 
1  The  means  ot  doing  it 
'(i  with  him— unless,"  said 
."  unless  the  papers  arc  at 

.  Barton,  with  decision.  "  1 
)Uard&  Pollard's."  . 
.)ud.  "  The  mystery  thick- 
receipt?"  .  , 
•t  ot  cow  of  it  '-S  in  a  place 
[,  iu  mv  hands  this  morning, 
f huTsday  when  he  left  the 

,g  at  some  hidden  problem, 
eak,  absently  and  mechanic- 

nph!  well,  that  requires  ex- 
,er  It  is  like  a  maze-one 
could  he  gain  by  disappear- 
bonds.    Pollards  say  his  ac- 

irlon. 

|J,°except  on  very  rare  occa- 

«  but  1  can  not  hear  a  word, 
directly  or  remotely  attacks 

oust  take  time  to  jhhiK  this 
■our  father?  TVhy  has  he  dis- 
ubled,  harried,  upset  me.  \N  e 
his  moment.  If  you  liuve  any 


A     WEKK    OF    PASSION.  '  8t 

recard  for  me.  tor  my  family,  in  which  you  have  always  been 
treated  as  a  friend— if  you  have  any  regard  for  your  father  s  mem- 
ory—vou  will  do  nothing  hastily."  . 

The  earl  once  more  keenly  and  anxiously  acruUnized  the  young 
man's  face,  as  if  he  would  pierce  to  the  very  center  of  his  l)ram. 
lie  had  not  forgotten  George  Bartou's  admission  that  his  object  m 
coming  to  Grosveuor  Place  was  not  to  see  him.  He  had  the  suspi- 
ciousness of  a  man  who  hud  a  giave  scciet  to  conceal— over  whose 
head  hung  a  sword  of  Damocles.  . 

"  You  will  do  your  best,  let  mo  hope,  to  assist  us  in  clearing  up 
this  business.  In  your  father  1  have  lost,  at  a  critical  moment,  a 
wise  and  devoted  counselor.  He  only  could  understand  and  appre- 
ciate the  difllculties  of  my  position,  and  do  justice  to  my  intentions. 
To  you,  1  can  only  say  that,  it  your  father's  memory  is  cleared,  as 
1  trust  it  may  be,  and  you  will  behave  with  discretion,  1  sliall  know 
how  to  prove  the  sincerity  of  my  obligation  to  you." 

I'he  earl  uttered  tliese  Inst  words  with  grace  and  feeling.  A 
strange  liiibt  clowed  in  Ihe  dark  eyes  of  the  young  man.  Some 
grave  predetermination  was  strucgling  with  some  flash  ot  comfort 
or  pleasure,  which  the  words  tie  had  just  heard  had  sent  tlirough 
his  being.  He  took  the  earl's  ottered  hand  and  pressed  it.  He  did 
not  venture  to  speak.  The  peer  did  not  detain  liim,  observing  tliat 
he  was  under  llie  intluence  ot  secret  emotion.  He  simply  rang  the 
bell  for  the  footman,  and  turned  to  the  table  which  was  covered 
with  papers.     He  also  was  troubled  and  preoccupied. 

Geoige  Barton,  seeing  that  it  was  useless  for  tlie  present  to  pres^ 
tor  an  interview  with  the  Coi  ntess  ot  Till)ury.  and  perhaps  not  now 
so  anxious  to  precipitate  matters  as  he  had  been,  (luietly  accepted 
his  dismissal,  and  left  the  house,  so  buried  in  reflection  as  hardly  to 
be  conscious  what  he  was  doing. 

"  Simpson,"  said  the  earl,  entering  the  hall  a  few  minutes  after 
the  door  had  closed  on  his  involuntary  visitor,  and  buttoning  his 
gloves,  while  the  footman  stood  attentive  with  the  peer's  hat  and 
stick.  "  whom  did  Mr.  George  Baiton  ask  to  see?" 

"  The  countess,  your  lordship." 

"  Well,  if  he  should  call  again,  and  1  am  here.  1  will  see  him.  If 
1  should  not  be  here,  you  can  say  tliat  her  ladyship  is  engaged." 

"  Yes.  your  lordship."    Tlie  "earl  went  out. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that,  Mr.  Perkins?"  said  Simpson  to  the 
footman,  alter  he  had  placed  a  couple  of  inches  of  oak  between 
himself  and  the  peer.  "  We  aiu't  my  Lord  Selby's  gentlemen,  and 
neither  the  countess  nor  the  young  earl  would  be  pleased  to  know 
he  were  a-interfering  with  their  visitors,  be  they  great  or  little 
ones." 

"  'Xactly,"  said  Mr.  Perkins.  "  but  he  does  what  he  likes,  does 
the  earl,  and  what  he  likes  is  to  have  his  own  way.  H  1  was  you, 
Mr.  Simpson,  1  would  just  mention  it  to  Mrs.  Collops,  her  lady- 
ship's lady-in-waiting,  and  take  uer  advice  about  it,  before  1  car- 
ried  out  such  orders  as  them.  He's  foxy,  the  old  earl,  you  know, 
and  the  younc  lord  was  always  very  tree  with  that  young  Mr.  Bar- 
ton " 

"Ay!"  returned  Mr.  Simpson.    "  And  old  Mr.  Barton  is  dead!  1 


*,t    t\\ 


.H 


gg  '  A     WKKK    OF    PASSION. 

^,ess  tron,  wbat  M.  George  suul  he  is  .be  very  man  lUat  assfiKiatod 

&Mn  Regent  Circus  the  other  day. 

..\V— w— what!  „„„„n,in(T  verv  mvsterious  about  aU  this. 

"  \es.    And  there's  s"'"^^'''"^  jeiN  ™ysi«-        ^^^^ys\\\Y,  likes  to 
nUdvise  with  Mrs  Colj^p8,.i8you^^^^^^  Hex^lady   ^l^^^ 

Imve  her  Owu  way,  too  and  no    "icneric  ^  ^^^  ^^^^ 

""ff^Ti  run  "iSn'stXCi  Vat  a  little  snacU.    Cards  and 

tlcnian."  

,;,'  CHAPTER  IV. 

'  A  CASE  VEUY  IMFEUFECTLY  STATED. 

Mn.  SOKTAO  had  not  V^^-^!^^^^Xoi  T!^^ 
papers  of  his  ,^^\P}^'^ZoT^'Z^^d)^t\M  encouraged  life;ht 
^■ho  had  Pe"«l»<=J^ '"  S,^f  °t'  the  gay  reporter,  to  have  her  ^^  ay.  He 
rumor,  the  sweet  De\>l'*>'  »  "''^  f  J  '  ^^  iu^iirect  and  underground 
intended  ta,P"'?f.«nJpi?ues  accurate,  he  was  sure  thai  he  would 

manner.  ^  Were  l'^' ;?« "  f  .^"'^'jHes "o  w«""  «"^  ^^^  particulars  ot  a 
not  be  able,  by  any  direct  iiquints  to  ^^.^.^^  ^^^^  resources 

conspiracy  involving  people  of  tl  e  ^^^^^^^^^^  the  assistance  of 
people  who  had  evidently  b<M^n  ^^^  °  i«g°"^„  g^ch  a  case  he  must 
The  most  dariuE  'J'^lfJaS  imve  a  thousand  ingenious  obstacles 
expect  to  be  countermined,  to  imve  a  J^  ^   ^  ^^^^^  i,y  8„me  oi 

BDrung  in  his  way,  even  Perl»"PS  lo  be  Deuaje  ^^^^.^  ^^^ 

h^rsuLrdinates.  He  ^««  ""j^'^K  „nv  h  ,"^^  «^^  ''''  ^"^rT' 
bis  case,  to  »«ce'-'«V^;.llrof^Mr  Barton  with  the  Selby  family, 
what  were  the  exact  ^l^^^^fXi  i  a"  preceded  his  disappearance. 
„nd  what  the  circumstances  ^^'cJ'^^'^P^,,  evidently  counted  upon 
The  pirsons  who  had  killed  wr.ijarioui.  i,leiitity:  and 

a  destruction  so  comi>  ete  as  o  gv  i  o  ^  «ce^f  ^/.^^..^^  ,„  order  to 
BO  paramount  was  this  object  that  »»«)  j^     Hence  he  con- 

secure  it,  trom  'mperilmg  "le  Im^  ot  o^h«  ip^^^  ^.^^^ijo,,.    ]  „t 

eluded  they  were  f^J.«Pf"^^\'°P^ag'  so  desperate  that  it  prompted 
^vhat  was  the  8>l-^»t'o°„^i"^\  t7|ucl%  horrible  speci.-sot  crime, 
some  person  or  persons  to  .eso  t  «>J»^^^  \      ^  ot  a  peer?  ^    , 

in  order  to  lid  themselves  ottlebusm^^^^  ^,  j,,^  A    I 

Young  Barton  liad  gone  I o  !''e  |^^  fcuve       i  ^  tavorably 

suspicion  ot  toul  play,  ""^''-^tu'irnfL  George  had  recognized 
,  impressed  Mr.  Sontag ,  who  felt  obliged  ,aier  u  .^  circumstances 
S  lather's  hand,  to  communicate  to  1  m^|^«  ^^^^^^  ^  led  to  find 
relating  to  the  watch.  Mr  Sontag  '^o^^  •  ^J  terrible  suspi- 
that  young  Barton,  l\'""S^'}*'":L"„|e  with  regard  to  the  business 
cions.  preserved  an  obstina  e  »  >?"^\^^^"^,  t^^uis  relations  at  that 
which  had  btoiight  WB.f'W'^cr  t«  ^^g";^^*^^' ''^na  not  press  him.  He 
time  with  the  Earl  of  f'^^yiJ^'Helmu  not  the  least  ideaof  worry- 

Ko-«-^StloiXs"^^^^^^^ 


iry  man  lliat  assfl  stated 


steriouB  about  aU  this. 

1    Hor  ladyship  likes  to 

e     Do  you  tbiuk,  Mr. 

he  door  tor  a  tew  min- 

ittle  snack?    Cards  and 

ir." 

willing  to  oblige  a  gen- 


•  STATED. 

It  to  slip  into  the  uews- 
lenlily  ol  the  individual 
■■  rather  encouraged  ligut 
■r,  to  have  her  w  ay.     He 
idirect  and  underground 
,e  was  sure  thai  he  would 
m  out  the  particulars  ot  a 
3t  position  and  resources, 
mroand  the  assistance  of 
In  such  a  case  he  must 
usand  ingenious  obstacles 
■ayed  and  sold  by  some  of 
aer  to  lay  a  firm  basis  tor 
V  hint  ot  his  suspicions, 
'on  with  the  Selby  family, 
weded  his  disappearance. 
ad  evidently  counted  upon 
trace  ot  his  identity:  and 
lid  not  shrink,  in  order  to 
jer  people.    Hence  he  con- 
desperate  situation.     JJui 
aesperale  that  it  prompted 
a  horrible  specii'S  ot  crime, 
I  agent  ot  a  peer? 
ve  Department  at  the  first 
nd  sincerity  Had  favorably 
ifier  George  had  recognized 
,  the  striking  circumstances 
ivever,  was  puzzled  to  find 
siranse  and  terrible  siispi- 
rith  regard  to  the  business 
n  or  to  his  relations  at  that 
ac  did  not  press  him.     He 
i  not  the  least  idea  of  worry- 
e  took  the  instructions  ot 
eftort  in  endeavorinsr  to  dls_ 
of  Mr.  Barton.     He  asked 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


3a 


those  pcntlemen  no  questions,  acceptinir  any  stntomcnts  they  mudo 
williout  pressing  for  explanations.  What  those  statements  wire  will 
appear  hereafter. 

In  the  newspapers  of  iMonda/.  the  day  on  which  young  Barton 
liad  made  his  visit  in  Grosvenor  Place,  the  following  atlverlisemcnt 
had  appeared : 

"£100  REWARD  will  be  given  for  information  of  the  wliere- 
abouts  of  George  Barton.  Solicitor,  op  Manor  Calliani,  Dibdalo, 
Yorks.  And  I'SOO-FIVI-:  iIL'>iDHi;D  I'OUNDS-for  the  recov- 
ery  ot  a  number  ot  documents,  last  in  the  possession  of  the  f-aid 
George  Barton,  consisting  of  deeds  of  lillc,  l)onds,  and  other  papers, 
of  a  confidential  chariicter,  and  ot  great  value,  a  list  of  which  may 
l)e  seen  i)y  any  jierson  who  can  i)i'ovo  to  the  suliBfaction  of  tho 
undcrsiRned  that  he  is  likely  to  be  able  to  give  any  information  of 
their  wheieabouts,  or  that  ot  the  sai<l  George  Barton,  l)y 

•  POLLARD  &  POLLARD, 

"  solicitors  to  tho  Kt.  Hon  the  Eakl  of  Selby,  K.G.,  155 
Lincoln's  Inn  Fields."  "/:  ,'f,i 

When  Mr,  Hontag  read  this  advertisement,  which  was  inserted 
without  consultinir  him,  he  simply  cut  it  ont  and  stucH  it  in  a  now 
memorandum  book,  which  was  marked—"  G.  B." 

Young  Barton,  his  faculties  concentrated  on  one  object,  had  not 
looked  tiiat  morning  into  the  advertisement  columns  ot  tho  news- 
papers, though  he  had  perused  with  care  the  latest  meajrer  details 
worked  up  by  the  reporters,  of  "  The  Regent  Circus  Jlystery,"  as, 
by  common  consent,  the  tragedy  was  called.  Returnine  to  his 
chamiiers  in  Kinn's  Bench  Walk  after  his  interview  with  the  Eail 
of  Selby,  he  was  surprised  to  meet  on  his  staircase  an  old  barrister, 
more  renowned  for  his  legal  knowledge  and  acumen  than  for  tho 
extent  of  his  practice,  in  whose  chambers  he  had  read  the  3-ear  pre- 
viously. Mr.  Le  Breton  was  one  of  the  elder  Barton'8  oldest  and 
most  valued  friends. 

The  younj!  man's  face  as  he  mounted  the  staircase  was  clouded 
with  thouglit  and  anxiety.  Since  Ids  interview  with  the  eail  a  vast 
depression  had  settled  down  upon  his  spirit.  He  was  so  wrapped 
up  in  his  reflections  that  lie  wjuld  have  passe<l  the  bsr  ti'^*.er  unnoticed, 
had  not  tlie  latter,  touching  him  gently  on  the  arm,  ^-.id. 

•'  Barton,  are  you  going  to  cut  me?    Why,  what  does  all  thia 

mean?"  .  .... 

"  You,  Mr.  Le  Breton!"  said  George,  his  face  lightmg  up  for  a 
moment  with  a  sad  smile,  as  he  grasped  the  other's  hand,  with  the 
sudden  energy  of  a  man  in  the  act  of  falling,  who  lays  hold  of  the 
nearest  support.  ,    „    ,     , 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  barrister,  slipping  Ins  hand  through  Barton  8 
arm,  and  turning  to  accompany  him.  "  1  hnve  been  up  to  see  you. 
"What  is  all  this  about?    What  on  earth  is  the  matter?" 

"  Stay,"  said  George  Barton,  gulping  down  his  emotion,  "  let  us 
get  into' my  room." 

He  could  scarcely  stand.  The  elder  man  supported  him  until  he 
reached  his  room,  and  tell,  rather  than  threw  himself,  on  a  chair. 

The  barrister  took  a  seat,  and  waited  for  his  friend  to  recover  from 


mii^ 


^Q  '  A    AVEEK    OF    PASSION.  .       ' 

ireely  through  \m  l'°-'«['^\,,  JJ^^"  "\"™WinR  hand  a  pipe  wh  ch 
to  notice.  He  rose,  anil  "  "^ '["  \'  ,vitU  deliben.tiou,  save  the 
lay  on  llie  mBntel-pifce  ana  'g^^^S/';^""  ^o  Breton's  arm 

vouuc  man  tune  to  master  ^s  tceiiu  8.  ^g  moved  quietly 

•[hcre^was  pressed  tiR^'^'y  f„  ^t  trfmS  S  volunies  of  smoke, 
about  llu,  *'l'l""'i'if-  l"S  iu  of  Sw,  examined  the  carpet,  m 
loolied  at  the  books  '""YkI.  he  nossiblv  could  xvithout  seeming  to 
fact  looked  everywhere  tHat  he  P08^^^>  1^1  English  gynipnthy  and 
;rc?v5  t^SboSl'-a  sS"g -lca^no;the  top  of  .hich  is  cov- 
^"^i^c  miiXs  thus  passed  in  a  silence  which  was  as  manly  as  it 
was  affecting.  wiiiinc  the  tears  from  hiscycB.nnd 

^r\:^  ^^:'!^Z.T:elr■':^^atSfoi  theh^sual  fire; 
-^rXK^yoJin^a^tewdaj.^^^,^^  voice,  "f. 

youSow.  there  was  Bometi.m|  -  •^--'K.^rndcrlis  arm. 

yS'  B"^ton  suddenly  recoverin^^^^^^^  C^'old  la^er. 
snatched  the  newspaper  *'°"^.^f,^Xmarked,  in  solid  lines  of  ink, 
^ith  the  instinct  of  his  r7i<=!?'°^'i'„  column"'  Barton's  eyes  had 
„  small  oblong  space  in  ^^^.^^^l^J^^em^  eyes  shot  flame. 
?aken  possession  of  'ts  contents  at  ^  g^"?^^;^  Ji,;„g  the  paper  on  the 
ground"  ^^  AidEntSv^  know't  ill  the  ti^me  he  was  talking 

^°S^-Ud  at^Le  f'-I^SI^ti^'^SS^-"-'^'-^ 
that  the  latter  drew  back  insliuciivLi).    «t    b 

ment,  and  stretched  out  his  hand  ^^.^^  ^  ^^^      j,    i 

^d  KftS.   ?S;irUCrt'm"yoak/^Yemustnotbem. 

^TeC^cccded  to  shut  his  outer  door,  and  when  he  returned  to  the 
room  his  manner  was  «=«]«  and  decided.  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^ 

••  Le  Breton,"  he  ^a^Vn/p  first  who  has  called  my  attention  to 
bi8elbows.onit.'*voyre  hefira^^^^^^  1  ^as  closeted 

this  advertisement,  and  ne\eriueiew,  uu 
with  Lord  Selby!" 


su 


vc 


Hi 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOK. 


il 


As  and  tlie  tears  ran 
licacy,  appeared  not 
;  baud  a  pipe  which 
libenitiou,  ;;<ive  the 
Icr  Lo  Breton's  arm 
He  moved  quietly 
volumes  of  smoke, 
iinined  the  carpet,  iu 
without  seeming  to 
QcliBh  sympathy  and 
top  ot  which  is  cov- 

;b  was  as  manly  as  it 

s  from  his  eyes,  and 
wlicd  up.  Hi?  face, 
led  of  a  yellow  and 
leof  their  usual  fire; 

re'mblinE  voice,  "  for 
h  emotion.    1  couia 

nld  friend.  1  guessed, 
,  was  wliy  1  came.  1 
m  under  his  arm. 
ow  of  any  connecUon 
George  Barton?  The 
made  public,  so  far  as 

sement— your  father." 
njjor,  jumpea  up  and 
ina.  The  old  lawyer, 
•d,  in  solid  lines  of  ink, 
I."  Barton's  eyes  bad 
his  eyes  shot  flame, 
ish'ng  the  naper  on  the 
ihe  time  he  was  talliing 

i<rerouB  light  in  bis  eyes 
Kge  noticed  the  movc- 

lo  drive  a  man  mad.  1 
much  in  want  ol  advice 
It  you  here.  Sit  down 
k,    "We  must  not  be  in- 

when  be  returned  to  the 

L  at  the  table,  and  rested 
IS  called  my  attention  to 
,ur  ago,  1  was  closeted 


"  What  doea  it  mean?"  ,     ,     .       , .        . :,  i:i,» « 

Le  Breton's  pipe  bad  gone  out,  but  he  kept  sucking  at  it  like  a 

sugar-stick.^^  one  of  the  most  infernal  plots  that  was  ever  hatched 
to  ruin  the  reputation  ot  one  ot  the  purest  and  most  honorable  men 

''  Intef/er  mhe  scekrisque  purus,"  murmured  the  old  barrister, 
with  the  pipe  between  his  teeth.  "  1  never  knew  another  who  an- 
swered so  well  to  the  description  as  George  Barton. 

"  Thank  you  "  said  George  Barton,  rising  and  taking  the  barris- 
ter's hand  and  pressing  it  warmly.    "  Your  words  act  on  me  like  a 

^"ne^resnmed  his  seat.    His  calmness  ot  manner  and  steadiness  ot 

voice  were  now  phenomenal. 
"  Le  Breton— he  is  dead!"  ,     ,    ,    » 

The  banrister  started.    For  the  first  time  he  noticed  that  young 

Barton  was  in  mourning.  ,      ,, ,       ^  „.         „,„,„i 

"Dead!"  continued  Barton.     "And  he  did  not  die  a  natural 

death-a  horrible  and  unheard  ot  crime  has  taken  him  away.    Le 

Breton,  can  you  believe  it?    It  was  my  father  who  was  killed  in 

^TfrnhorrTand  pain  which  appeared  in  Le  Breton's  face  were 
indescribable.  He  attempted  to  liabble  out  a  tew  words,  but  bis 
voice  died  upon  his  lips.    The  pipe  dropped  out  of  bis  hands  upon 

"^u  will  help  me,"  continued  George  Barton,  after  a  pause, 
"  to  iudae  whether  1  am  dreaming  or  demented,  or  whether  1  have 
any  Intelligence  remaining  to  me.  Listen  to  my  statement  of  all  j^e 
facts  1  am  yet  in  possession  of.  with  all  that  incredulity  which  you 
used  to  teach  me  was  the  proper  attitude  of  counsel  in  '^Jproacbin^ 
the  consideration  ot  a  case  submitted  for  his  opinion  and  then  tell 
me  your  own  inferences.  But  first  1  must  say  that  behind  the  tac  a 
known  to  the  police,  and  which  1  am  going  to  relate  to  you,  there  s 
a  series  of  tacts  not  bearing  directly  on  the  question  of  identity  but 
pointing  clearly  to  motives  for  a  crime,  ot  which  I  can  not  iniorin 
Vou  I  have  ray  suspicions  that  they  have  a  sinister  bearmg  on  the 
fate  of  my  father.  1  can  not  help  thinking  they  must  have;  though, 
if  it  be  so!  they  compromise  persons  of  the  highest  position  and  in- 
volve consequences  which  1  shudder  lo  contemplate.  In^leed,  1 
dare  not  permit  myself  to  coniemplate  them,  tbey  seem  so  mcredi- 
ble.  so  impossible."  Secrets  ot  a  great  andpowerful  family  are  in- 
volved-secrets which  came  into  my  possession  under  he  sea  lot  the 
most  sacred  confidence,  and  «hicb  nothing  but  the  last  ex  remity 
would  justify  me  in  revealing  to  any  living  soul  ""tsl'^e  1^  t  fam- 
ily,  to  iboni  1  am  bound  by  honor  and  sympathy  and  gr^tdude-- 
and-aflection."  His  voice  trembled  as  he  pronounced  the  last 
word,  and  he  bid  bis  face  in  his  hands.  "  Tlie  advertisernent^  he 
continued,  "  to  which  you  nave  drawn  my  attention  of  course  dis- 
closes  that  something  more  is  concerned  in  my  father's  disappearance 
Uia^Ws  own  interests  or  good  name.  So  far  I  have  a  right  to 
use  it .  It  is  a  disclosure  voluntarily  made  by  those  concerned.  But 
of  the  nature  and  bearing  ot  the  documents  which  are  there  n  saia 
S  have  Spared  along  with  my  father  1  am  not  tiee  to  give  you 


4 


^ 


/ 


et, 


A    WEEK    Of    PASSION. 


'is! 

4i' 


If 


„„,  C1.W  0,  l.lorm.llo».    Ple«»  te...ll«l  m  mind.  .»a  «»  nol  Mk 

profesBlon-for.  «  l''"./''"'"  '°°'„'"M  u"  the  whole  truth  whea 
malkevrcv'^M'^'  »>'e  atlornuys  "^"f^'^,  *-'  "f,,7„8y  "or  an  Ingenious 
,hey  p/eseul  a  case  for  our  '>i;>»';;"i„J^,'^,^ ^^^,  ,';',\  ,o,ne  iuiportaut 
attorney  who  wants  to  ";«1^«^";»^^*^  usXs  him  in  plunsing  a 
facts,  and  so  to  gel  an  »P  "  °^,;^\';„^o",  Si  has  lost  his  case,  ii  Is 
client  into  a  lawsuit;  and  ^^if"   '''",  ,f  !^,,^'' '"gih  j^    lies-it  is.  1  ex- 

the  circumstantial  evirtence  'f]"^"  f,  "ff^'j^'^Se  le^  is  already  ac- 
had  perished  in  Rep"t  p[<;"«.  f^ ''i;'£  j  come  up  to  London  wltli 
quainted,  first  statina  that  ^f  J^  mos'f  vh"  interest  to  Lord  Sel- 
regard  to  a  matter  of  H.^8»°cf„\of„|Hf,i?'buV'u^^^^^^  had  in  his 

by  and  his  sister,  t^e  Countess  otribu.yMUainen  ^^^^^ 

pWssiou  papers  which  were  f°  J^^^^^i^^^^S  ible  for  them; 
peared;  and  a  list  oi  '"^  ""^"V' ^"    „„,ej  vvith  the  oi  Rinal  receipt, 

hi™'"  .       ,„  ,„io«o  tii«t  ft  verv  violent  scene  had  taken  place 

He  then  went  on  to  relate  ^'^^^f^jy^.,,  between  his  father  and 

SbetfTbre  Erd'L   ?«rroTS?b^»be,«g:  .b.. 


/ 


ind,  and  do  not  ask 

)ld  barrister,  leBum- 
titude,  "  tb&l  laai 
si  matetittl  lads  nre 
■ally  Uie  tate  ot  our 
ct  or  carekssuess  or 
J  whole  irulli  whea 
asy  tor  an  iuj;enious 
!eul  some  iiuportaut 
}  him  in  plunsing  a 
las  lost  his  case,  ii  is 
)ililv  lies— it  is,.  1  ex- 
insel.    you  aie  very 
»r  any  opinion  given 
see  what  1  can  raalse 

0  me." 

etoie  the  barrister  all 
ity  of  the  person  who 
!  reader  is  already  ac- 
le  up  to  London  w^lth 

1  interest  to  Lord  Sel- 
at  he  had  had  in  his 

important  as  to  liave 

responsible  for  them ; 

)llard  &  Pollard,  who 

George  Barton,  had 

1  ot  the  day  he  disap- 
'in  the  receipt,  which 
h  the  oiiRinal  receipt, 
■,  was  now  lying  there 
I'nior.  but  could  not  at 
ipers  were  therein  par- 

)llard  &  Pollard  lljem- 
particulars  of  the  loBt 

the  perspicacity  of  the 
then,  I  suppose  there 
do  80  directly." 
Le  Bieton. 

I— it  disappeared  with 

it  scene  had  taken  place 
jctwten  his  father  and 
gree  to  a  certain  line  of 
that,  on  his  return  Irom 
expressed  himaelt  with 

2  in  the  profession  th»t 
tliament,"  the  only  IK«- 
1  a  paradox— in  stronger 

George  Barton  ever  re- 
auy  human  being;  that 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


4d 


the  nc\t  moralug  they  had  brenkfnste  '  togell.er  in  his  chambers  at 
!•  TU1.X  a  icr  which  Georce  went  lo  read  in  the  library,  leaving 
hU  tn  1  er  writing;  that  the  elder  Barton  had  received  a  letter  from 
Kf"  rl  orS  ^ho  had  l.een  absent  for  three  or  four  days  in 
ho  rmmtrv  statli  c  that  lie  would  arrive  at  St.  Paucras  Station  at 
f5urS/k  ,S  r^'equeslii.g  Mr.  Burton  to  meet  him  at  the  family 
Sanson  in  Porl man  Square,  at  Ave  that  afternoon;  tha  he  liad 
Zml  to  return  Z  the  Temple  after  the  interview,  and  to  dine  with 
his  son  at  '  The  Rainbow  '  at  seven  o'clock. 

•Tkft  him  silling  there,  writing,"  said  ynung  Barton,  with  emo 
lion  •'  He  smHat  me  as  1  went  out.  and  sahl,  *  XVeMl  circumven 
Ihoso  rascals  vet  if  the  earl  only  holds  true  and  has  courage.  I 
never  saw  Him  again.  You  know,  as  1  am  not  yet  called  1  keep 
no  clerk  The  laundress  left  at  halt-past  ten,  and  he  was  here  then. 
The  next  trace  we  have  ot  him  is  his  calling  at  Lund  the  watch- 
maker's  in  Regent  Street.  He  intended  to  give  me  H^e  -^"^tch  h« 
used  to  mry  before  the  Earl  of  Selby  presented  him  with  a  mag- 
niflppni  chronometer  watch,  made  by  Frodsuam.       ,    ,    ,  ,  , 

YoimrBarton  t^en  related  the  other  facts  which  he  had  learned 

'The'^oUnawyw  had  listened  with  close  attention  to  this  history 
and  spite  0  his  sympathy  with  his  young  friend  whose  genuine 
aftection  tor  his  father  could  not  fail  to  excite  emotion,  even  in  one 
wl,™,fi  Pntbusiasin  and  faith  in  mankind  had  long  since  gone  out^  la 
rsC  o?now  only  glowed  in  faint  embers,  he  could  not  repress  the 
suspicion  of  inciedillity  which  too  long  an  experience  of  the  world 
IXf  human  nature  had  made  habitual  to  h  m.  1  was  nipossible 
for  him  to  iH-lieve  that  George  Barton  was  the  ind  victual  who  bad 
met  h?s  deafh  in  Regent  Circus.  It  was  inconceivable  to  he  old 
Wend  who  knew  George  BarU.n  so  well  that  he.  staid,  timid  about 
Are  ams  and  by  no  means  givn  to  curious  inquirits or  experiments^ 
should  be  cariying  about  explosives,  especially  in  the  crowded 
stree  8  ot  the  metropolis.  Even  should  his  an.x  eties  have  turn^l 
Krain  toward  suicide,  that  was  certainly  not  the  method  of  self- 
SlstructVn  he  would  haVe  chosen.  It  was  supposable  that  the  man 
rniloZt  Circus  miirht  have  been  contemplating  suicide,  and  that 
he?ad  furn  S  himself  with  nitro- glycerine  for  the  purpose  and 
fhatithadgoneott  prematurely -but  George  Barton  wa.  not  that 

""Moreover  he  was  one  who,  even  in  suicide,  would  have  thought 
of  others  He  svould  have  spared  oihers  any  pam  or  danger  in  de- 
stroJinThimself  He  would,  if  anytning.  have  taken  a  poison. 
t3  Le  Brrton  argued  to  himself.  Well,  how  could  such  a  man 
J}  .i.«<,P.l  with  dvnamite  or  nitro-glycerine  without  knowing  It? 
fid  some  mSousperr^  a  c^artridge  into.his  pocket  in  the 

rtreet?  Tl7e  i  lea  seemed  too  absurd  to  be  worth  discussion.  Such 
fSonranthrrlskof  being  himself  blown  up.  of  being  seen  of 
beC  caught  Le  Breton  did  not  say  to  his  young  friend,  but  ue 
Sht  that  the  lattei's  confidence  in  his  father's  integrity,  and  his 
anx"ftv  to  prove  it/led  him  to  accept  too  readily  the  very  naperfect 
evidence  which  was  in  possession  ot  the  police  as  substantiating  his 
?heo?r  The  hand,  he  Emitted,  was  a  very  strong  PO'at;  but  after 
K  was  so  easy  to  b«  deceived  by  a  hand,  especially  after  death. 


44 


A     WEKK    OF    PASSION'. 


a-. 


•^1 


t 


Tho  lililc  fln^er  was  a.  coincidence  inUTesting  but  cone  usiyc. 
ilain  Mr  Soilag's  watch  tl.cory  was  inccu.ous.  but  trivia . 
FStnm'9  watcbS.  IModuct  ot  n>orc  tlum  a  century  ot  ma-uifac  - 
re  ?e'cuo  mnlK.Vi.lbv  Imn.lrecb,  but  by  scores  of  lliousa  u  8 
If  il.o  wortliv  Yorlisliiremau  bad  also  caught  a  piece  of  llie  Swiss 
;;atch  as  "e^l  on  his  clothes,  that  wouUl  have  becu  .nuch  more  cou- 

'''TMirolon  felt  wluU  pain  it  would  cause  the  young  man  to  combat 

th  .^st  iuiar     u^^     that  his  latner  had  n.et  his  death  u   he  m.n- 

.^    uig^sted.  but  he  was  too  honest  to  conceal  h.s  «       ""^ 

•■  Wllliout  inoie  conclusive  proof,     he  said       I  think  «e  must 

abandon  your  theory  of  your  tather's  death.    1  tlunk  you  luive  ac- 

''••■'ieV'^K^^^^^^^      that  be  has  nm  awayr  cried  George,  ma 
tone  of  anguish.     "Is    that   consisteut  with    your    nd,vcr   vila> 

*"-'ftoy'nol'tollow,  my  dear  Barton,  that  your  father  is  not  .lead 

has  not  been  ma  le    waj:  with.    It  is'that  wliich  1  wish  to  impress 

;;;lrj^i..     While  you  are  pursuing  thischimera,  you  may  beiosmg 

*"'.?l5o '^'airGeS'B'lton;  •'  1  have  so  firm  a  persuasion  that  1 
am  St  Ua   Ido  not  teel  it  worth  while  to  tollow  up  any  other 

dmve  imniedUtelv  to  Scotland  Yard,  1  visited  every  place  where  I 
Jould  fan"  ye  had  gone.    1  went  to  the  hospitals  to  satisfy  myself 
W  ad  Seen  the  victim  of  an  accident  or  ot  sudden  illness    The 
^.?r  hil  been  to  Loid  Tilbury's,    lie  was  the  first  to  tell  me  of  that 
XibleSSs  in  the  Circus.    Somehow  the  conviction  flashed 
S"  mo  there  that  it  was  my  father  who  had  perished  unfer  Lord 
Tilbur^s  eves-an  incident  which,  if  you  only  knew  all  the  tacts 
wukl  appear  to  you  to  increase  the  improbability  of  iny  theory,  so 
^conceivably  strange  and  dramatic  does  the  coincidence  appear. 
ThrvoTng  earl  as  you  know,  has  never  recovered  consciousness 
lie  knew  nu"  father  well.    He  alone  possibly  could  clear  up  he 
nu.stPrv-he  mav  have  caught  a  glimpse  of  him-but  there  is  Ittle 
one  of  his  recovery.     Since  that  tinfe  1  have  hardly  slept  a  wink. 
^h^avetliouSot  nothing  else;  my  con  .'iction  has  .rown  stronger 
the  morel  rev?cw  the  Circumstances.    That  couvfction  1  can  not 
S^^ke  ofl     The  interest  that  certain  persons  had  in  destroying  the 
undoubU^d  proofs  of  their  crin:inality  «:h  ch  were  in  my  fathers 
nowession-an  immense  sum  of  money  which  was  involved-      He 
Btojped  suddenly     He  was  forgetting  the  caution  be  had  imposed 

"'rSe^oTd  bairister  caught  at  this  hint,  but  he  saw  that  George  did 
nof  wish  to  compromise  some  important  personages,  whom  he  nat- 
S?K  guessed  to  be  either  the  Selbys  or  the  Tilburys     He  said, 

••  By  the  way,  did  you  make  any  inquiries  at  Pollard  &  Pol'ard  s? 

"  Yes     The  partners  said  that  in  the  circumstances  they  did  not 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


46 


ig  but  conclusive. 
jHious,  but  trivial, 
ntury  ot  inanufact- 
corea  of  Ihousnnils. 
piece  of  tlic  Swiss 
ueu  inucli  more  cou- 

3ung  man  to  conibnt 
is  ilcntli  in  tlie  nun- 
liis  opinion. 
"  I  tliink  we  must 
thinli  you  liave  ac- 

'  cried  George,  m  a. 
your    ihk'jer    ritm 

lur  lather  is  not  dead 
icb  1  wisli  to  imjiress 
ra,  you  may  be  losing 

n  a  persuasion  that  1 
follow  up  any  otlier 
me  very  toolisb  and 
{  anxiety  began  witb 
r  nigbt— so  soon  as  1 
;  eleven  o'clock  from 
put  out,  my  father's 
cion  of  foul  play.    1 
every  place  where  I 
tals  to  satisfy  myself 
t  sudden  illness.  The 
first  to  tell  me  of  that 
lie  conviction  flashed 
1  perished  under  Lord 
ly  knew  all  the  tacts, 
ility  ot  my  theory,  so 
3  coincidence  appear, 
overed  consciousness, 
ily  could  clear  up  the 
im— but  there  is  little 
!  hardly  slept  a  wink. 
1  has  "rown  stronger 
t  conviction  1  can  not 
had  in  destroying  the 
I  were  in  my  father's 
was  involved — "    He 
lution  be  had  imposed 

3  saw  that  George  did 
onages,  whom  he  nat- 
Dilburys.    He  said, 
t  Pollard  &  Pollard's? 
mslances  they  did  not 


consider  llmt  they  would  be  justified  in  grflntintt  nn:  nn  interview 
They  instructed  a  clerk  to  tell  me  that  Ibcy  bad  placed  the  nmltir  in 
tlie  irniuls  ot  the  police,  and  that  1  must  communicate  witii  J<cotland 
Yard." 

"  Ob,  well,  that  was  natural,  was  it  not?    Have  you  any  objec 
lion  to  tell  mo  what  position  llicy  occupy  iu  these  serious  nlTairs  of 
which  vou  speak?" 

"  That  is  my  dimculty.  1  can  lumjly  answer  tliat  (lUestion  with- 
out compromising  '.itbers.  However,  1  will  say  tliat  their  position 
niid  character  are  gravely  Imperiled;  Uiey  are  so  mixed  up  in  the 
dangerous  situation  ot  wiiicb  my  father  lield  the  key  that  it  is  im- 
possible to  conceive  tliem  scparaicd  from  the  persons  concernetl." 

"  Take  care,  George  Harton.  Pollard  &  Poflarrt  is  one  of  the  most 
respectal)le  lirms  in  the  profession— the  very  top  ot  the  tree— im- 
mensely strong,  with  untarnished  reputation,  and  tlie  partners  are 
considered  to  l)e  two  of  the  very  alilest  and  shrewdest  men  of  busi- 
ness in  the  law-list.  They  are  enormously  rich,  and  beyond  any 
suspicion,  and  yet,  if  1  nnderslnnd  you,  your  theory— I  must  call  it 
so— is  based  on  a  criminal  imputation  against  this  firm." 

Barton  tor  a  few  moments  remained  silent  and  undecided. 

"  Le  Breton,"  he  said,  "  1  can  say  U  to  you,  though  you  will 
probably  tbiuk  that  troul)le  has  disordered  my  brain.  1  answeryour 
supposition  In  the  affirmative—'  It  is.'  I  told  you  wliat  my  fatlier 
thought  and  said  after  the  stormy  interview  on  Tuesday  afternoon. 
1  know  the  facts,  and  1  agree  witli  him.  1  wish  it  were  only  Pol- 
lard &  Pollard  whose  position  and  interests  were  in  danger,  or 
against  whom  my  suspicions  were  directed!  I  would  not  hesitate 
lor  a  moment  to  declare  those  suspicions  to  the  police." 

"Hum!"  said  Lo  Breton,  a  particle  which  has  not  a  pai  tide  of 
meaning,  but  an  ejaculation,  nevertheless,  which  may  conceal  a 
world  ot  thousrhts  and  ideas.  He  letiected  silently  for  a  few  min- 
utes. He  liad  a  real  affection  tor  the  Baiton  family,  a  profound 
sympathy  witli  his  young  friend,  and  a  sincere  desire  to  help  him; 
but  Ihere  was  a  mystery  in  all  that  he  bad  heard  which  defied  his 
ingenuity.  Besides,  it  is  not  a  lawyer's  business  to  imagine,  hia 
haoit  is  to  reason  from  facts,  and  the  facta  disclosed  seemed  to  the 
barrister  to  prove  that  George  Barton  was  laboring  under  a  halluci- 
nation; that  his  usually  clear,  penetrating  intellect  had  had  its  visiou 
distorted  by  recent  events:  a  result  which  was  not  surprising. 

"  By  the  way,"  he  said,  "  you  promised  to  show  me  a  copy  ot 
tuat  list  of  papers." 

"All!  yes." 

Young 'Barton  unlocked  bis  desk,  and  took  from  a  private  drawer 
a  sheet  ot  paper  in  folio,  on  which  was  engrossed  in  his  own  band, 
a  copy  ot  the  list  referred  to,  which  was  initialed  at  the  bottom 
"  G.  B.,"  under  the  letters  "  Exd." 

The  barrister  perused  it  with  great  deliberation. 

"  Humph!"  he  said,  opening  his  eyes  wide,  and  fixing  them  keenly 
on  George  Barton,  "  what  docs  this  mean?"    He  read: 

"  '  Brief  of  Title  to  the  Estates,  lands,  tenements  '—hum,  hum— 
'  known  and  described  as  Linton  Grange  and  Linton  Park,  in  the 
County  of  Somerset,  the  property  ot  the  Rt.  Honorable  Isidora  Maria 
Nevilton,  Countess  of  Tilbury,' et   cetera,  etcetera.     'Deed  of 


46 


A    WKKK    OF    PASSION. 


,    >  1  ii»,>  inii.roMt  In  ilie  sniretromtheBfttTicto  the 

•  I  tell  you  1  saw  1  he  receipt. 
'.'  MySher  hn.l  11  in  Uls Imn.l  on  Thurs.lay  morning." 

rroristrs^yuio:!;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

"nSaTe?'jJ4"rSisT"p5enUy.  for  these  Identical  p«per.r' 
"Were  no  other  documents  in  question? 

::  SXh'ey  any  interest  in  s«PPrc.inga^^^^^^     y^r./drnr.! 
1  .lon't  see  how  tl'i7  could  Irn^e  ^  '«  ^J'^^„°^;^J„°     some  bonds  to 

=^£  ^=r  ^ffi^-  --d  wUh  a  PU. 

^^'^A^rhtn  c^d  SSunVEl^i  ot  Tilbury  come  of  ager 

::{?av?KctlnuTihe  executor  or  executors  of  the  estate 
^f^t'slSeK-nTjJt' completed.  Lord  Tilbury  has^absohde 
confldence  In.Lora  Sell'i;  '^«  ««'f„fSrhe  eC  e  aSlnls^^^^^ 
:i''\Tpolfar'r&Toffl''?Kstltw^^^^^^^^^^      million  and  three 

complicated.     Lord  \''""jy  "' ,  ,h!  ■  nothing  to  do  with  the  admin- 
Cr.  Srsh»go"l£S  traSunTs  with  the  Pollards,  and 

''■"H.Snd  "there  was  a  disagreement?"  said  Le  Breton. 

;:  ^'h  •  '1^  .hf«  "  «i"  d  Ihc'barrister.  turning  upon  young  Barton 
and  ^ying'C  £n.""  yoS  base  a  theory  of  Wl  play  on  the  part 
ot  such  a^rm  as  Pollard*  Pollard?" 

"  I  haven't  said  that." 

•  •  ?doD'Teven  imply  U.    1  tell  you  there  are  other  clrcumstflnces. 
which  all  Jour  ?ng"nuV  would  nV  enal.)e  you  to  guess  at,  which 

^E-^d^drt^P^KSCl'urr  .  th.  direction  ne 
.nntinuedtosKtbelistbetorehlmasit  he  were  endeavonnc  to 
exSict  some  Kfratlon  from  the  bald  statements  U  contamed. 


A    AVEKK    OF    PASSION'. 


47 


,  tliesfttncto  the 
—hum,  liiiui  — 
rge  of  €50,00(» ' 
li,  .lulv  con, ion 
e  United  Pmtis 

lonumcntiil!  Do 

1&  roHoid?" 


ling." 

Ml  lett  tiK'iu  on 
lie  on  Tliursiliiy 
otiUl  have  called 

lonllcal  papers?" 


hese  documcnls? 
if  the  (locunients 
je,  son»e  bonds  to 
V  with  such  docu- 

jcted  with  a  puz- 

age?" 

iters  of  the  estate 

bury  has  absolute 
Ijorit  Selby.  over- 
entire  admlDislra- 
niillton  and  three 
^ears  are  long  and 
in  my  father.     He 

0  with  the  admin- 

1  the  Pollards,  and 

Breton. 

ipou  young  Barton 
ul  play  on  the  part 


ther  circumstances, 
to  guess  at,  which 

this  direction.  He 
?ere  endeavoring  to 
B  it  contained. 


,'=>iiil(k'nlv  he  striicU  his  (iHiliciul  wiih  hit  palm. 

■  I'.iirion,"  he  siiid,  "  I  rcciill  Honietliiii);  viigut'ly  which  made 
soire  n«)ise  til  tlie  time.  Did  not  the  olil  Kail  of  t^eihy  dlsiuhuril  the 
prt'si'iii  onc'V" 

"  Will,  US  far  nx  ho  could.  The  family  cstaloa  were  settlc<l,  but 
tlicro  WHS  a  lari,'L'  personuily,  and  the  tslate  of  I.inton,  which  lie  had 
i)Uichasi;d  in  his  lite-lime.  Tlie  present  earl  married  a  French 
couuless,  with  Whom  his  father  had  fallen  in  love  long  attei  his  llrst 
wife's  deulli.  !?lie  was  a  woman  of  ,i;reiU  hoauly,  lalenl.  and  virlues. 
bhc  prelerrud  the  sou  to  the  fullier;  and  nolwitlistaniling  all  the 
elloils  of  her  luniily,  fhe  married  the  present  earl.  The  old  earl 
never  l()r;,Mve  her  or  his  sou  titlier." 

"  Egad^"  remarked  Le  Breton,  parenthetically— he  was  a  baehelor 
— "  1  never  could  umlerstaml  how  men  could  make  such  fools  of 
Ihemseivea  aliout  women.     One  w.imau  is  as  good  as  another." 

"  Ahl"  replied  Georjre  Barton,  "  there  are  mortals  so  weak  as  not 
to  share  your  opinion.  Certainly  the  old  earl  did  not.  Ho  never 
xnaitied  again,  and  never  afterward  apiiearid  in  P.ngland.  He  livcnl 
on  the  continent,  between  I'aris,  Ilomburg,  and  Cannes.  He  was 
very  fond  of  his  only  daughter,  the  Countess  of  Tilbury.  The  Karl 
of  Tilbury,  father  oi'  the  piesent  earl,  was  also  a  favorite  of  his;  he 
Lad  a  good  deal  to  do  with  the  marriage.  The  Countess  of  Tilbury 
always  remained  on  good  terms  with  her  brother,  in  spite  of  the 
rupture  with  his  father,  and  she  was  also  exceedingly  inlimate  wiih 
bis  wife.  1  remember  Lady  Selby  well.  Her  daughter.  Lady  Blanche 
Laylon,  who  has  come  out  this  season,  reeembks  her." 

ilad  the  old  barrister  been  looking  at  George  Barton's  face  at  this 
moment,  he  would  have  observed  that  his  eyes  brightened  and  a 
slight  flush  colored  his  cheek  uuderueath  the  brown. 

*'  Lady  Selby  died  six  years  ago,  leavmg  several  children,  the 
eldest  Lord  Layton,  who  has  made  such  a  mess  of  it  on  the  turf. 
The  earl  has  paid  an  Intlnite  sum  of  money  on  his  account.  It  was 
one  of  my  father's  greatest  an-xieties  to  find  this  money.  The  earl's 
OA-n  expenditure  is  not  measured,  and  vast  as  the  Selby  estates  are, 
the  drafts  upon  his  resources  have  been  seriously  burdensome." 

"  And  yet  Lord  Selby  has  been  able  to  lend  the  Countess  of  Til- 
bury fitly  thousand  pounds!" 

"  ]  can  not  tell  you  anything  about  that." 

"  At  all  events,  the  old  Eurl  of  Selby  left  Linton  to  Lady  Til- 
bur  j-." 

"  For  life  only,  with  remainder  to  her  son.  lie  also  left  her 
nearly  two  hundred  thousand  pounds  in  personalty — shares,  consols, 
French  rentes,  et  celem—h\i\,  she  was  reijuested  only  to  take  the  en- 
ioymeulot  the  diyideu:ls.  lie  requested  lier  to  hold  the  principal 
Intact  for  the  benefit  of  her  son;  and  there  was  one  peculiar  tuing 
about  it— he  made  her  sole  executor." 

"  So  that,  in  tact,  she  has  absolute  power  of  disposition?" 

"  Tes;  and  she  is  a  woman  who  is  worthy  of  the  confidence  her 
father  reposed  in  her.  My  father  said  so,  and  1  regard  his  judgment 
as  infallible.  He  knew  her  well.  She  always  treated  him  with 
triendship,  and  sometimes  consulted  him.  This  has  added  lately  to 
the  anxiety  of  bis  position." 

"  According  to  this  there  appears  to  have  been  some  great  irregu- 


49 


A    WKKK    01-'    I'ASSION. 


'°°°Syal you  .»v  L<.r.l  S«ll,y  Um tal  to  n».ko  «  l«'l!«  «<1""« 

**     -!«.^;i?^f ii/o;rWrj'^^^      .-  you  .o,„a 

Si,  Su  you  bJ;«"  Vu,  ta«l.    Wtal  e.«  you  OKpsc,  m.  to 
"■'""rl",.,.!™  •■  iald  voune  Marlon,  .liloR  «11<1  l«»nl"6  .«'™,."i? 

,. J:"«ffix  .X«  .^,1  ;;rr  iSi:  w^^ 
rri,  5.Kn»^^"t;sy^^^^^^^^ 

have  ever  seen  that  list. 
Tlie  barristor  uodiled.  ^   j,         jj^ve  told 

••  The  iruih  is,"  lie  said,     my  .^^"/^'r!:^,,?'.!  possibly  advise 

a.e  conveys  no  i^><^.'«J°  »\^Jfi7Jaon'rbotoo  c^^^^^^^^    Li  vour 
vou  in  the  c  rciimstances.    i  only  say, """  •,""'",,„_.,  i-pijeve  he  is 
The?  has  perished  in  the  manner  y""  b^^P^/^^-^""^ 
dead  till  you  have  "^^olu  €  proo  s-do    l  «pare  a^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^ 


A     WEEK    OF    I'ASStO.V. 


49 


,.  lo  wlilfU  I  he 
i(.unu  TiUmry, 
Mulon  (Irnrnto 
red  lo  I  ho  Eurl 

lie  (loeil  to  have 
my  oil  a  clmrgo 

11  life  Interest." 
,  Still.  LliUoa 
lis  i\\i-  countess 
;o  sum  111  L'ush, 
menl.  It  wiw  ft 
fd,  ostensibly  to 

artcis  ot  B  mill- 

ft  larRO  advance 

says." 

er,  testily.  "  but 

f  it.    The  situa- 

(nets  you  would 

in  keeping  these 
d  to  make  known 

mornine  that  the 
■ecL'lpt  was  in  ex- 
Itold  him  of  it." 
words. 

ave  known  of  the 
I  My  ilear  Bar- 
on, "  really  now, 
■ou  expect  me  to 

eaning  across  the 
(  and  sincerity  ot 
iviil  never  show  ft 
0  have  thoiiirht  of 
you.  Itiustj'ou 
yill  forget  that  you 

t  all  you  have  told 
I't  possibly  advise 
10  certain  that  your 
don't  believe  he  is 
ny  exertion  to  (lis- 
iny  absurd  notions 
in  the  proper  quar- 


ters any  Inlormallon  you  hi.vo  whlcli  may  lenil  lo  elucldaio  your 

'"••'7  Hilr 'li.  .1  feartullv  dlHl.nll  portion,"  said  younu;  Ui>rion. 
•  Wiih  all  niv  Ine.xperlence,  1  have  alone  lo  try  ami  counK'infl  ft 
cou.plracv  concoele.!  by  some  of  the  .hrew^leHt  and  n.ost  nim.lng 
hfads  that  ever  eniruned  In  a  great  crime.  I  have  to  ^el  at^  the  bot. 
torn  ot  a  mortt  (llslionoral)lo  ami  criminal  tranHaetlon,  ami  I  Imve  o 
tiv  to  do  tlilH  wllhoiil  Inlus-licu  lo  peoi-le  whom  1  have  b.  en  liuitrlil 
to  rcHpect.  wilhoul  injury  lo  in.ioeent  perions  who  may  l.e  "V"  ved 
in  theeonk-.iuence8i  ami  yet,  at  all  ha/.ards,  1  musland  w  11  i"  "  «  « 
niy  lalher'H  memory  ami  take  care  that  the  autliors  o  his  duManl ly 
crime  shall  meet  the  punishment  lliey  deserve.  To  kill  such  a  man! 
80  noble,  so  pure,  so  gentle,  so  good!  ««  KC»crous  to  hi^t  enem  m^^ 
and  m  kind  even  to  wtong-doers.  sinners,  and  outcasts!  I  '""'  •"''' 
the  thought  of  Ihe  injustice  of  It  nearly  drives  me  mad!  And  'o 
tliliik  that  his  murderers,  those  who  planned  and  su^'ges  ed  Ills 
death  in  this  violent  and  ignoble  fasliion.  may  go  uupunisb.  d-may 
conllnue  to  live  on  and  enjoy  their  ill-gotten  weaitli!  Hy  ''f-"V<;» 
Le  nreton,  it  I  thought  that  were  possible,  1  would  renounce  taltU 
in  anything  but  evil  and  selrtsiiness!"  ,,      ,      . 

"  Tut  tut!"  said  old  Le  llreton,  who  was  moving  uneasily  aiiout, 
in  and  out  among  the  furniture,  as  it  ho  were  ihiidding  a  mn/.e.  ills 
hands  in  his  pocuels  and  his  ell)0W8  stuck  out  like  the  winus  ot  an 
untrussed  foRd-six'ftking  to  himself,  of  course.  "  1  don  Hike  this 
-overexcitement- brain  lever-ciuile  in  the  '  Lrcles    vein. 

Hut  I  am  resolved,"  continued  Barton,     and  1  tuist  1  shall  have 
the  courage  and  the  strength  lo  do  my  dulv  in  the  mailer. 

"  \men!"  said  Le  Breton,  gently.  "1  have  unbounded  confl- 
dencc  in  your  abilities,  but  the  task  you  are  proposing  to  yoiirself ,  I 
can  see  well,  would  have  taxed  the  Intellect  and  the  audacity  of  a 
AVestbury.  Above  all,  keep  cool— as  cool  as  you  can— and  remem- 
ber 1  nm  always  at  your  disposal."  ,   ,,   ,      , 

The  old  barrister  took  an  aflectlonate  leave,  but  be  shook  his  head 
as  he  went  down-stairs.  

"  Never  had  a  case  so  imperfectly  stated  In  my  lite-not  even  by 
AVest  &  Greenall,  who  never  state  one  at  all,  but  in  any  case  they 
send  vou  all  the  documents.  There  Is  some  infernal  and  unheard  ol 
mystery  behind  all  this,  or  else  poor  George  is  in  a  bad  way.  The 
anxiety,  1  tear,  will  prove  too  much  for  him.     Poor  dear  old  Bar- 

'°  As  he  stepped  across  the  Temple  there  vyas  a  kind  of  'Iry,  legal 
moisture  in  the  old  barrister's  eyes,  which  ho  wiped  away  with  his 
handkerchief. 

Barton,  left  to  himself,  paced  the  room  for  a  long  time,  ''"r'edjn 
painful  retleclions.  Recalling  with  the  m  nutest  care  ^^y.^jofd 
and  incident  ot  the  interview  lie  had  had  with  the  Earl  of  Sclljy,  he 
tortured  his  ingenuity  in  efforts  to  sound  Ihe  depths  of  that  great 
act  cian's  mind.  Wm  not  his  conduct  during  that  Interview  strange 
and  incomprehensible?  Was  the  ha.shnessot  his  f^t  '•eceplion  put 
on''  Had  he  really  suspected  that  such  a  man  as  his  late  agent  had 
been  guilty  of  embezzlement,  and  had  run  away  to  avoid  the  con- 
sequences? ■      ,j        ,  r 


60 


X    AVEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


i/l 


The  young  man  was  inexperienced,  and  he  was  hardly  able  to 
conceive  or  correctly  appreciate  the  protundily  of  the  cynicism  and 
unheliet  enjjeudered  by  the  long  exiieriences  ot  such  a  lite  as  that  of 
the  Earl  ot  Selby— which  was  not,  indeed,  one  lite,  l)ut  Inilf  u  dozen 
lives  wrapped  in  one.  So  that  Georije  B:irton  could  not  lind  ,any 
excuse  for  the  peer's  acceptance,  even  tor  a  moment,  of  the  base  in- 
sinuations airainst  his  father's  motives  which  had  evidently  been 
made  by  Pollard  &  Pollard. 

Theu'the  carl's  suspicion  of  him— was  it  real  or  pretended?  Was 
it  not  the  astute  diplomacy  of  a  guilty  man,  who,  to  divert  suspicion 
troni  hiinsell,  accused  his  accuser??  Again,  his  affected  kindness, 
and  the  alirupt  and  strange  variations  in  his  manner,  his  apparent 
anxiety  to  discredit  t'ie  id-^a  that  the  elder  Barton  had  met  with  any 
loul  play,  his  elaborate  sarcasms  leveled  at  the  Circus  theory,  his 
suggestion  ot  ."uicide,  and  the  anger  he  exhibited  when  he  discov- 
ered that  some  one  was  yet  living  who  knew  all  that  the  missing 
agent  had  known  ot  his — the  earls— weaknesses  find  wrong-doing? 
And  then  the  sudden  chaniie  in  his  tactics  toward  the  close  ot  the 
interview?  AVhat  did  it  all  mean?  The  more  the  young  man  pou- 
Jered  and  puzzled  over  it,  the  more  firmly  he  became  convinced 
that  Lord  Selby  knew  something  of  his  father's  fate— was  an  acces- 
sory to  tlie  frightful  crime  by  which  his  moulh  had  been  forever 
silenced. 

B  '^ain  he  shuddered  at  these  awful  suspicions  which  he 
cou!.;  -JOt  repress,  at  the  consequences  which  loomed  up  befoic  him 
dark  and  terrible.  He  shrunk  appalled  from  the  prospect  of  drag- 
ging this  peer  before  a  court  of  justice,  especially  when  he  thought 
ot  the  iSelby  family,  of  the  Tilburys,  with  whom  he  had  been  so  In- 
timate, who  had  been  so  kind  and  gracious  to  him  from  his  boy- 
hood ;  and  then  one  fair  face  seemed  to  rise  up  before  him,  in  the 
bloom  of  early  beauty,  and  with  a  form  full  of  grace  and  charm; 
and  eyes  were  bent  upon  him  which  had  alwaj's  seemed  to  carry  in 
their  soft,  luminous  depths  the  gentle  and  eternal  brightness  of  the 
stars  of  heaven.  Deep  in  the  lieart  ot  this  practical  young  Lnglish- 
man  there  was  a  world  ot  undiscovered  poetry  and  passion.  But 
when  the  vision  had  begun  to  soothe  his  soul  with  its  sweetness,  he 
checlied  himself  and  waved  it  back  as  if  It  were  an  evil  spirit,  and 
strove  to  shut  his  eyes  and  steel  his  heart,  as,  smiling  a  bitterly  sar- 
castic smile  at  his  own  weakness  and  lolly,  he  turned,  with  a  dread 
determination  in  his  tace,  to  somber  thoughts  of  justice  and  venge- 
ance. 

Thus  he  bad  spent  more  thr;-.  an  hour  in  painful  struggle,  when  he 
was  disturbed  by  a  loud  knocking  at  his  outer  door,  which  he  had 
closed  when  Le  lireton  went  out,Vith  the  hope  ot  discouraging  any 
visitors.  This  one,  however,  was  evidently  determined  to  get  in, 
and  fearing  lest  he  might  lose  some  important  intelligence  it  he  neg- 
lected seeing  the  person  who  was  so  importunate,  be  opened  the 
door. 

The  Ear]  of  Selby  stood  belore  Uim. 


le  was  hardly  able  to 
y  of  the  cynicism  auil 
it  such  a  lite  us  that  of 
B  lite,  hut  half  a  'lozen 
n  could  not  fiml  <an.v 
loment,  of  the  base  in- 
h  hail  evidently  been 

al  or  pretended?  "Was 
.•ho,  to  divert  suspicion 
his  atfected  Idndness, 
,  manner,  his  apparent 
iiton  had  met  with  any 
the  Circus  theory,  his 
bited  when  he  discov- 
5W  all  that  the  missing 
sses  and  wrongdoingV 
jwanl  the  close  ot  the 
le  the  young  man  pon- 
•  he  became  convinced 
2r's  fate— was  an  acces- 
loulh  had  been  lorever 

I  suspicions  which  he 
a.  loomed  up  befoie  him 
a  the  prospect  of  drag- 
icially  when  he  thought 
rhom  he  Lad  been  so  In- 
is  to  him  trom  his  boy- 
!  up  before  him,  in  the 

II  of  grace  and  charm; 
vays  seemed  to  carry  in 
iternal  briijlitness  of  the 
)ractical  young  Knglish- 
)etry  and  passion.  But 
il  with  its  sweetness,  he 
were  an  evil  spirit,  and 
,s,  smiling  a  bitterly  sar- 
he  turned,  with  a  dread 
hts  of  justice  and  venge- 

)ainful  struggle,  when  he 
inter  door,  which  he  had 
hope  ut  discouraging  any 
ly  determined  to  get  in, 
ant  intelligence  it  he  neg- 
lortunate,  he  opened  the 


A    WETAi    OF    PASSIOX.  61 


CHAPTER   V. 

TS  IT   LOVE— OR   A  SACRIFICE? 

Blanche  Ehnestine  were  the  names  given  by  the  late  T.Iarie, 
Countess  of  Selbv,  to  an  only  daughter  who  had  grown  up  to  bo 
one  of  tlie  most  lovely  and  charming  girls  in  Lomlon  focicty.  At 
eiKhteen,  with  all  the  freshness  of  complexion  and  hrmness  ..t  phy- 
simie  of  the  English  race  addtil  to  the  easy  grace  and  vivacity  ot  a 
Frenchwoman,  the  most  brilliant  (/.6(/<  of  the  Bcason  had  been  that 
of  Lady  Blanche  Layton.  When  she  made  her  rever.-nce  to  the 
sovereign  and  kissed  her  hand,  her  Majesty,  who  had  known  and 
esteemed  her  mother,  was  so  struck  by  the  fresh  loveliness  of  the 
irirl's  face  and  expression  thai,  in  a  moment  of -motherlv  admiration, 
ihe  drew  the  young  beauty  to  her,  and  impressed  the  cusloiiiiiry  kiss 
upon  htt  blooming  cheek  with  an  emotion  which  surprised  the  old- 
est courtiers,  accustomed  as  they  were  to  see  the  queen  manifesting 
the  goodness  and  kindness  of  the  royal  heait  with  all  the  warm  h 
and  H«u-t'^^.  of  an  inrjcMw.  unspoiled  by  the  flattery  of  a  court  or  the 
splendor  of  iier  unequaled  position.  ,.   ,    ,  •   ., 

The  dowagers  said  that  "  Lady  Blanche  was  a  little  trop  airnicee 
but  that  no  doubi,  was  because  she  was  the  daughter  ot  a  French 
countess.  In  the  eyes  ot  the  other  sex,  however,  this  was  an  addi- 
tional charm— the  combination  of  lightsome  ease  with  pei feet  dig- 
nity of  manner,  the  union  of  wit  with  ingenuousness  being  a  very 
rare  admixture  of  qualities  in  an  Englishwoman^  ,,  .  ,  ,  k«„„ 
The  voung  Eail  of  Tilbury,  among  a  host  of  gallants  had  been 
vanquished  by  the  graces  of  his  cousin,  graces  which  lie  had.  more- 
over special  and  unfair  opportunities  ot  studying  in  the  intimacy  of 
domestic  life;  ano  to  the  great  contentment  of  the  Larl  of  Selby. 
and  also  of  the  Countess  of  Tilbury,  his  mother,  he  had  manift^ed 
a  preterence  for  Lady  Blanche  which  was  marked  and  serious.  The 
countess,  indeed,  regaided  her  niece  as  a  paragon.  Lord  belby,  who 
was  better  acquainted  than  any  one  else  with  the  slate  or  the  young 
eurl's  rent-roll,  knew  that  he  could  nowhere  find  for  his  daughter  a 
more  brilliant  match.  Other  motives  may  have  operated  on  his 
mind,  which  this  history  will  disclose;  but  among  them  certainly 
were  a  sincere  affection  lor  his  ward,  and  a  judicious  admiration  ot 
qualities  which  it  had  been  his  own  duty,  as  Lord  Tilbury  s  guardian, 
to  study  and  to  cultivate.  The  young  peer  did  honor  o  bis  dis- 
tineuished  tutor.  The  worst  ot  the  fine  schemes  cherished  for  their 
two  paragons  by  the  noble  brother  and  sister  was  that  one  of  the 
most  important  parties,  namely,  theyoung  lady  herselt  though  she 
tieated  the  young  earl  with  most  cousinly  and  familiar  affection, 
seemed  to  regard  the  idea  ot  any  closer  relationship  with  irreverent 
amufement.  She  was  wont  to  annoy  the  earl  her  father  by  the 
liKhtnesB  which  she  permitted  herselt  to  display  in  regard  to  this 
high  question  of  family  policy  whenever  he  tried  to  approach  the 
subieol  with  her  in  a  serious  manner. 
"Edward,"  she  said,  referring  to  Lord  Tilbury,  "has  never 


k'* 


.g  A    WEEK    OF    PA-SSION. 

°  ,0UC„  ...  mc  on  sue.,  n,,,J..s,  •^^^-^ ^ SX IS^^I  'X 

pose  lu;  ever  will    -the  ''""-J^"''Vp  ...^n't,  because  be  is  such  a 

The  wiills  like  a  mcl.incholy  spns  «f /^J " 

•' Amagnoliu/^uggestcclU.ce.^^^^^  ^-asting  my  sweetness.  1 
"  If  von  pretcr  it.  r?P»' 'I^,  "^^'^'Jeart  b  U 1  Muk."  and  here 
„m  YOiin-,  1  scarcely  know  "  5  °^"  ,?g",e  anfl  peer  at  hev  falhei 
she  wouicl  r^\}'''';lf"*^,Xs-'- tl.en^anNvhohas^  the  deep- 
through  her  >"^lt;f  "f  n'f^;^,„en  is  Lord  M'Corquodale.  He  is 
est  impression  up  t"  ""^  niomem  ,  ,  _„,„^  go  very  grace- 
honest  and  steady  and  eco"oni  c  una  rt  K  ^^.^^^  ^^^^^^  ^ 

iuU    A'^'\'^V"jfu'knoV°  Beside^    S"l-"y'"g  >'i-  one  ^s•ould 

^iB™t.d  Io'S^^^^S^'h  strange  green  light  when 

three  in  height,  who  l^f  •  "^i^^^^T^  the  amusement  of  the 

in  his  national  costume  ami  who  ^^^^^  He  used  to  carry 

young  ladies  and  t»'e  1^^""  °_I  i  rremUiously  into  men's  hats  or 
tracts  intosociety  andslip     em  su^^^^^^^^  ^   ^^^  ^f  1,,^    ,ooms 

hidies-  mufts  and  bags.  J'    "JJ^'^.^fvfsion  of  the  Salvation  Army  _ 
bad  seen  M^^orquodale  lea  ing  a  'imsio  ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^.^ 

through  the  strec  s  of  "'«  ^;«f  ,|^""'  ^"^  oue  cruld  have  been  more 
song  to  words  of  Pl«"\;o^;  '  ^;,,„u  u.is  useful  knave  of  hearis, 
awkward  will.  K'^'^'/J^^'i^y S  so  thouchtlessiy ;  and  he  was 
,vhom  Lady  Blanche  use^  to  P  '^[  "'^^/''^ei^od  I'is  r«<=«- 

endowed  with  all  "'tCihirvSg  and  gaunt  Scotch  Don  Quixote 
It  really  was  tl»e  case  that  this  jounga     |.^.^     ^  ^^^^^^^  admiration 

had  endeavored  to  «ii»"'i«^''  "„',  jjg  was  only  a  Caledonian  noble- 
tor  the  beauty  of  l''«  ~°'i^^°"ear  BuUhe  earl,  who  had  a  keen  • 
man  with  about  six  -^^""^"'i'^g^oon  Uumped  this  particular  card,  for 
wit.  and  dear  y  l^'^^^.Vtoluncrand  obliged  his  daughter  to  spend 
he  asked  M'Corquoda  e  to  hino  ,  a^a  >,  ^^^  delivered,  in  a 
two  mortal  hours  m  '^earing  the  Lngnsn       fc     n  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^ 

somewhat  ^a'-^'^^^^^^^ot  a  smalT /«  'f^«'«^  ot  tracts,  which  he 
a  ••  wer^'aSiUra^a^^teVt'S  ul^  and  tastes  of  moder-rn 

^^■J^'^^^^^l^lhl^arl^laughin^  when  his  gu.t  had^^arted. 
••  if  you  Will  let  me  know.  BlanJie  wnen  jo  g    j  j^  minister 

gacrifice."  .,  „  ■[.,•,„„  that  rreature  again  to  lunch,  1 

.u;xrj.^'ii;ra^rme"5S4K  j™*^.'  so,..„n»o. 

will  cost  you  dear.  „,i„„D.i  thp  Scotch  peer  afterward  in 

earl  to  be  as  far  oft  as  ever. 


.-v^y) 


■ir 


A    WEEK    OF    TASSIOX. 


53 


t  or  reason  to  sup- 
lie  sliouM,  1  will 
iiuse  lie  is  such  a 
e  is  time  onouph, 
liosc  tliitisrs.  ^Vl»o 
.oukl  £>ow  against 

'  my  sweetness,  1 
illiink."nna  here 
peer  at  her  falhei 
ins  made  the  dcep- 
>rquo{lale.  Jlc  is 
ami  60  very  grace- 
t  him  made  a  cov- 
3g  liini  cue  would 

E  green  light  when 

peer,  about,  gix  leet 

ext,  to  array  himself 

le  amusement  of  the 

He  used  to  carry 

into  men's  hats  or 
L  one  of  his  grooms 
the  Salvation  Army 
g  the  tune  of  a  comic  ' 
uld  have  been  more 
fill  knave  ot  hearts, 
;htle8sly;  and  he  was 
ic  conceit  of  his  race, 
t  Scotch  Don  Quixote 

a  violent  admiration 
y  a  Caledonian  noble- 
earl,  who  had  a  keen  • 
is  particular  card,  for 
his  daughter  to  spend 
guage  delivered,  in  a 
ater,  the  torture  end- 
(s  ot  tracts,  which  he 
,nd  toalea  ot  moder-rn 

J  guest  had  departed, 
lu  have  finished  those 
and  a  Scotch  minister 
prepared  to  make  any 

ture  again  to  lunch,  1 
Bician.    So  your  lunch 

iotch  peer  afterward  in 
game  appeared  to  the 


Au  hour  after  the  Earl  of  Selby  had  left  the  Tilbury  mimsion  in 
Grosvcuor  I'iacc,  this  j-oung  ludv  presentcil  hcrselt  at  the  door  in  a 
c'muniuu  little  co^pi;  whicli  her  fiitlier  Imd  giveri  her,  and  after  a 
brief  parley  with  Simpson,  wlio  (iefcudud  the  pate  mantuliy,  slie 
broke  through  all  the  defenses,  routed  ]Mvs.  Collops,  and  was  soon 
sitting  in  the  boudoir  with  tiie  Countess  ot  Tilbury. 

The  countess  had  been  for  years  one  of  tlie  most  dignified  and 
cstiiniible  figures  in  London  society.  Though  she  was  not  liand- 
soine,  the  pleasing  traits  of  lier  face,  whicli  was  full  ot  intelligence, 
her  tall  and  commanding  ligure,  the  nobility  ot  her  carriag-  and 
manlier,  invested  her  witli  a  distinction  which  had  been  recognized 
in  many  of  the  most  brilliant  courts  of  Europe,  and  had  won  the  re- 
yard  and  allection  ot  her  sovereign.  Slie  had  nuich  of  the  clever- 
ness, and  some  ot  the  cynicism,  ot  her  brother,  without  any  ot  his 
malice.  In  experience  and  tact  she  was  a  thorough  woman  of  the 
world;  vet  her  heart  had  not  been  hardened,  her  natural  sympathies 
had  not'  been  dried  up  by  that  incessant  contact  with  selfish  and 
ignoble  passions  which  an  intimate  knowledge  of  society  involves. 
Tliat  she  had  piejudices.  It  would  be  useless  to  deny.  She  was 
aristocratic  to  the  backbone,  a  conservative  of  conservatives,  ami  she 
cherished  with  pride  the  privileges  of  rank  and  wealth.  But  her 
natural  goodness  of  heart  often  led  her  to  unbend  from  these  rigid 
noiioiis,  and  to  the  surprise  ot  those  who  knew  her  best,  prompted 
her  to  acts  which  appeared  to  be  quite  inconsistent  with  her  proud 
and  lottv  principles. 

TV  hen',  upon  the  insistent  summons  of  her  niece,  she  came  out  ot 
her  son's  sick-room,  and  entered'  the  boudoir,  her  firm  and  stately 
features  were  disorderec'  ■  ■     careworn.    A  charming  jjicture  indeed 

r'larming  cheek  that  laid  its  downy 
sred  skin,  a  charming  mouth  that 
'"  French  tahion,  and  a  lovely  little 
miuu  luui  H"""--"  '"'  ""-  ■  -h  t""Ch  over  her  hair,  abundant,  but 
sprinkled  with  gray,  which  she  was  too  proud  to  conceal.  But  the 
chords  of  her  heart  were  too  tightly  strained  by  anxiety  and  soirow 
to  allon-  her  to  show  much  expansion  under  these  affectionate  tond- 

•'  My  poor  Aunt  Dora!"  said  the  girl,  in  a  sweet,  musical  voice; 
"  how  pale  and  ill  you  look!    How  is  he?" 

The  countess  had  borne  up  throusrh  the  terrible  days  and  nights 
with  iron  resolution.  Slie  would  not  allow  herself  for  a  moment  to 
doubt  that  her  son  would  recover;  but  when  this  simple  question 
was  put  to  her  by  Lady  Blanche  she  suddenly  felt  as  it  an  arrow  bad 
gone  through  her  brain,  and  putting  her  hands  to  her  head,  she  said, 
in  a  voice  ot  anguish, 

"  Oh,  don't  ask  me,  my  dear.  It  is  simply  dreadful.  -Not  a 
word— not  a  movement  since  he  was  carried  In  there  senseless.  My 
heart  Is  breaking!"  ,  ,  ,      ,      ^     ,        ^  ^ 

She  remained  tor  a  tew  moments  with  her  hands  clasped  over  her 

CV6S 

Lady  Blanche  stood  gently  stroking  the  hands  that  looked  so 
white  anu  thin.  .,.„,, 

"  Aunt,"  she  suddenly  cried—"  Aunt  Dora,  can  1  do  anything? 
"  You,  dear!"  said  the  countess,  letting  her  hands  drop,  and  look- 


was  that  which  awaitec  li 
freshness  against  her  d;    " 
kissed  her  on  either  aiuo 
hand  that  passed  its  soi 


5^  S.    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 

-nurse  him.-or  do  anything  to  re^^^^^^^^^  ^„„^,,„,  trom 

A  taint  smile  passed  ior  «",  "«^^";; 'r^e  of    be  countess,  ami  she 
acloua-wiappeclsky  across  the  worn  face  o^^^^  ^^  .^  ^^ 

earnestly  examined  the  8^««>' <;""^''^ii^''/i^"^     A  slight  thrill  ot 
read  the  thoughts  that  were  written    n  tuem^    a      b  j  ^    .3 

pleasure  had  passed  'I'^^^'If'VJherS^esumrdlVs  troubled  aspect. 

»^in'^^*inrS.^^rcoS°"Sh7s£i;n  not  come  and  help 

y".*?  W  dear,  it  is  because  you  are  -ly  ^s  co-.n  jUaUuc^^^^^^^^^^ 
19  out'ot  the  q"««)'°"-„"-Vlier  niece's  del   ate  cheeks.    "No 
watched  tlie  co.or  come  and  go  '" ''"  °\^o7  itjng  myself.   My  poor 

^fl^^^^^^  .aid  -if.; 

rnlfenloTworthK^^^^^^  ^-  '°  -"; 

Inz  him?"  ,  .    ,  „a»  Tiianohe'a  checks  as  she  uttered 

Wblushhad  deepened  m  Lady  Bla^^^^^^  ^,1,^ 

these  words,  and  the  co»n  ^^  co"W  not  ^^^^^^  "b^    she  said, 
modesty  and  grace  and  courage  of  her  uiecj.  ^^^^^^^  ,^^ 

•'  Is  this  an  avowal.  »'a"<','^V,„,'^ Vnows  whether  it  may  not  lie 
happy  to  hear  it  than  1  tliough  God  knows  wii«-iuer  1        y      ^^^^ 

too  lute-be  only  the  „b„^S"|eriouTe^^^^^  youV" 

n'a^iVBlSe-s^CrSsleZ"^^^^^        v^iolet  eyes,  andher  face 
^~  Cunt,  nothing  but  lun,  you  know,  little  coquetries,  tut- 

^'^JhTo^ntrdfyTuteSr  Kue^^^^^^    -man  who  re- 

^ylTo^tSersta^mrit^^^ 

self-respect  to  throw  myself  at  any  «"«  »  I'^^^'i^f  j  „t  ^11  evente  no 
am  a  Selby.  Perhaps  1  am  ^OO.'I''^- '°'?»°i^^;,e7^^^  a  word  to  me, 
one  will  know  ot  it  but  y:>u.E^waul  has  never  sa      ^^^^^  ^^ 

but  1  am  a  woman.  <'J'^±^^^.XJTi\x^-l\iiioyf  you  will  call 
longing  to  say.    And- what  1  felt  was  ';"«    ^.^  ^    '  jg  pooi  Ed- 

s; J^,JSttS?=  2i''4i"  YSn  sx.'h^ " 


iiiSff, 


A    -WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


55 


enly  grown  ciim 
iny  ot  her  aunt's 

and  assist  you  to 

ot  sunMilne  from 
countess,  ami  she 
jtore  ber,  (is  if  to 
A.  slight  thrill  ot 
the  mnitien's  eyes 
its  troubled  aspect, 
ery  good  ot  you  to 

lot  come  and  help 

1  that  such  a  thing 
tePi  hesitated  and 
ijate cheeks.  "No 
J  myself.  My  poor 
I  about  it,  my  dear. 

"  you  said     it. 
j'ther  Edwant  and  1 
with  it— if  we  were 
e  help  you  in  nurs- 

hecksassheutlerea 
miring  the  mingled 
lut  she  said, 
one  could  be  more 
ether  it  may  not  he 
you.  Has  he  ever 
jed  between  youV" 
eteyes,  and  her  face 

tie  coquetries,  Vut— 

sperity  in  her  voice, 
ked  in  her  features. 
No  woman  who  re- 

itting  her  hand  over 
going  to  say,  please! 
»;  1  have  too  much 
1,  fa  m  sana  dire.  1 
but  at  all  evente  no 
rer  said  a  word  to  me, 
'elt  and  what  he  was 
I  know  you  will  call 
b:  '  Here  is  pooi  Ed- 
fes  me  as  1  think  he 
le  a  comloit  to  him  to 
ive  his  life.'    So,  my 


dear  aunt,  1  thought  1  \vould  offer  to  come  nnd  help  you,  because, 
you  sec,  supposing  it  v  ere  not  as  1  thought,  1  am  liis  cousin,  and  no 
hiirni  would  be  done,  every  one  would  think  it  uutural  lor  me  to 
come  and  help  you;  uiid  if  it  should  turn  out  to  bu  the  other  way, 
you  know,  then  1  should  have  done  my  duty,  which  is  to  save  him, 
tor  you,  and  tor  his  own  sake,  for  he  is  a  good  and  noble  tellow— 
Oh  me,  what  a  stupid  girl  1  am!" 

And  Lady  Blanche,  throwing  herself  on  her  knees,  buried  her 
face  in  the  ample  folds  ot  Lady  lilbury's  gown,  and  sobbed  like  a 
child. 

The  countess  was  greatly  moved,  blippiiig  oft  the  charming  lit- 
tle hat,  which  Lady  Blanche's  criet  threatened  with  destruction, 
she  caresacd  the  girl's  hair  with  her  fingers. 

"  We  folic .'"  she  Paid  to  herself.  "  She  gets  all  this  exaltation 
from  her  mother."  Every  weakness  ot  the  llesh  or  spirit  is  traced 
in  England  to  foreigners,  even  if  it  be  necessary  to  go  back  to  the 
Conquest  for  it.     "  Is  this  love,  or  a  sacrillcev" 

Presently  she  leaned  over  and  murmured  in  her  niece's  ear, 

"  Blanclie  dearest,  tell  me,  tell  me  truly,  as  you  would  have  done 
to  your  'nother,  do  you  really  love  him?  Would  you  give  yourself 
to  him  body  and  soul,  with  all  your  heart,  if  he  were  well  now 
here,  and  were  to  ask  you?" 

Blanche  trembled.  She  did  not  reply.  The  countess's  face  was 
gentle,  but  a  shadow  crossed  it. 

"  What  do  you  say?"she  asked,  a  little  more  decidedly. 

Still  no  answer.  Blanche  was  trembling  more  and  more.  The 
shade  deepened  on  the  lace  of  the  countess. 

"  Then,"  she  said  at  last,  in  a  deeply  disappointed  tone—"  then, 
my  dear,  this  was  not  love,  but  a  sacrifice!" 

"  Aunt,"  cried  the  young  lady,  suddenly  throwing  her  head  back, 
and  looking  straight  into  her  ladyship's  eyes,  "  can't  you  under- 
stand? 1  am  a  Utile  goose--l  know  1  don't  love  Edward  enough  to 
marry  him— if  he  were  quite  well  ar  d  out  of  danger,  but  to  save  his 
life  and  make  you  happy,  you  kno'/- well,  don't  you  see?— 1  would 
do  anything!" 

"You  little  Idiol!"  cried  the  countess,  clasping  her  in  her  arms 
and  Kissing  lier  with  an  emphasis  quite  out  of  harmony  with  her 
wonted  calm  and  dignity  of  manner.  "  1  hare  a  great  mind  to  take 
you  at  your  word,  and  make  you  nnrw  and  marry  him— there!" 

"  Well,  aunt,  1  am  quite  ready," 

"  But  you  don't  love  him." 

"  1  am  not  in  love  with  him— no.  Hove  him— yes,  like  a  brother." 

"My  dear  Blanche,"  said  Lady  Tilbury,  "this  little  romance, 
which,  let  me  tell  you,  was  a  very  absurd  and  perilous  one,  shall  have 
no  denouement.  God  forbid  that  you  should  ever  pi  ve  yourself  in  mar- 
riage to  any  one  whom  you  did  nol  love  with  all  your  heart— better, 
let  us  hope,  tlmn  you  do  your  '  brother  '—Alfred,  for  instance." 

There  was  a  little  malice  in  tliis  remark,  for  the  eldest  sou  of  the 
Earl  of  Selby  was  by  no  means  a  lovable  person,  and  certainly  not 
one  of  Blanche's  favorite  heroes. 

"Well,  dearest  aunt,"  said  tlie  blushiu,?  girl,  looking  a  little 
ashamed,  but  appealing  to  the  coimtess  with  ber  hands  together  in 
a  pretty  gesture,  which  she,  no  doubt,  also  got  from  her  mother,  for 


56 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


H 

it 

I' 

K- 

It 
i 

I 


'you 

you? 

to 


or  al  least  the  capacity  to  describe  it.   ^"'"•S^'T.f ',...„  ^'^y^  been 
*".^i?onU  fiort  he  is  saved!"  cried  the  conntess,  risinc;  and  running 

«l,.to''.S£""a?aSop"»r  dlgpl.,:  •■  Wll.  y.«  Ple.»  como 
with  mo  to  the  hall  door?" 

:"..  CHAPTEK  VI.  - 

DIAMOND  CUT  DIAMOND. 

t™  .>ori  when  he  letl  the  mansion  in  Grosvenor  Place,  took  his 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


57 


I  ted  it,  "you 
le,  won't  you? 
)Tii  about  It  to 
a." 

t  sorry  to  have 

1  lm>l  begun 

8— the  world  is 

nd  our  young 

iny  dear,  tliat 
lUst  liavc  a  talk 
women  writers 

luinian  nature, 
racious,  wlial  is 
!  we  bave  been 
3.    See  who  is 

itter  in  her  dark 
ly  excited. 
;n— he  i8  asking 

ing  and  running 
will  send  a  note 
tin  the  corridor, 
d  Mrs.  CoUops, 
,  and  fi?:ing  her 
ititul  face  betore 
ngs. 

ly  recovering  her 
you  please  come 


r  Place,  took  his 
never  alloived  a 
he  driver  the  ad- 
But  as  he  drove 
)een  close  to  him 
expression  which 
ns  were  agitating 
his  fingers  were 
Ills  brow  w  as  con- 
iracter.  All  this, 
e  world  from  see- 
•iccadilly,  or  from 
on  the  pavement 
liim,  made  a  sign 
8  a  little  surprised 
lies,  and  far  from 
ir  "Welter  Grandl- 


son,  leaning  over  into  the  hansom,  with  a  solemn  and  confidential 
air  said, 

"  Earl,  have  j-nu  heard  anything  yet  of  your  missing  steward?' ' 

"No,  Sir  Walter  Grandison,"  replied  the  earl,  regarding  his 
Interlocutor  with  a  mixed  expression  of  hauieur  and  suiprise.  "  3Iay 
1  venture  to  ask  what  is  the  ground  oi  the  interest  you  take  In  the 
matter?" 

"  Only,"  said  the  secretary,  with  a  benevolent  smile,  "  that  1  am 
anxious  to  spare  you  unnecessary  annoyance.  Do  you  forget  that  1 
am  practically  head  policeman?  They  have  taken  It  Into  their  heads 
in  ^^colland  Yard  that  the  person  who  was  exploded  the  other  day 
in  Regent  Circus  was  j'our  agent,  whose  name,  If  1  remember 
rightly,  was  Barton,  and,  naturally,  they  are  making  every  e2ort 
to  ascertain  wliether  there  was  anylliing  in  his  position  and  circum- 
stances to  make  it  probable  that  some  one  had  an  interest  in  putting 
him  out  of  the  way." 

"  Forgive  me,  S*ir  Walter. "  said  the  peer,  with  a  smile,  "  if  1  had 
for  the  moment  forgotten  the  distlnguishert  olTlclal  attribution  you 
have  properly  reminded  me  of;  but  although  1  am  prepared  tor  any- 
thing under  a  Birmingham  government,  1  assume  that  you  are  not 
proposing  to  make  an  inquisition,  in  this  time  and  place,  in  relation 
to  my  personal  responsibility  for  my  ogent's  fate?" 

The  secretaiy  smiled  too.  The  earl's  manner  was  not  In  the  least 
offensive. 

"  On  the  contrary,  my  dear  earl,  1  was  going  to  fell  you  frankly 
that  1  think  they  are  on  the  wrong  tack;  but,  you  see,  1  can  not 
prevent  them  from  following  up  such  clews  as  they  fancy  they 
have,  and  it  occurred  to  me.  on  seeing  you,  that  their  inquiries 
might  cause  you  and  j'our  family  considerable  inconvenience.  Are 
you  taking  any  steps  to  ascertain  what  has  become  of  the  man?  1 
should  sincerely  advise  you  to  ieave  no  stone  unturned  to  discover 
his  whereal)outs  without  delay,  and  thus  put  a  stop  to  this  absurd 
inquiry,  which,  1  am  convinced,  is  only  diverting  the  energies  of 
the  police  In  a  false  direction.  1  liope  you  will  not  considc  that  1 
have  presumed  too  tar  in  giving  you  this  friendly  hint?" 

"  On  the  contrary,  it  is  extremely  obliging  of  you,  my  dear  Sir 
"Walter,"  replied  the  peer,  calmly  smiling  in  the  other's  face  and 
J  speaking  with  great  cordiality.  "  to  have'gone  out  of  your  way  to 
give  me  this  intimation.  Tliele  was  nothing  in  my  own  relations 
with  3Ii.  Barton  to  niHke  me  at  all  anxious  about  any  inquiries  the 
police  may  ibink  fit  to  institute.  1  place  myself  entirely  at  their 
service.  Still,  as  jou  say,  no  one  cares  to  have  private  and  family 
affairs  ripped  up  before  the  public.  1  happen  at  this  moment  to  be 
on  my  way  to  my  solicitors,  and  1  will  urge  them  to  push  for- 
ward theii  inquiries  about  Barton's  fate  with  all  the  energy  they 
can.  The  whole  affair  is  mysterious  and  inexplicable.  Barton  had 
all  my  confidence,  and  1  can  conceive  of  no  leason,  under  any  cir- 
cumstances which  are  known  to  me,  for  his  running  away  or  being 
murdered.  1  shall  always  feel  indebted  to  j-ou  for  this  considerate 
act,  the  more  that  you  anrl  I  so  seldom  have  an  opportunity  of  ex- 
changing courtesies.  This  is  a  real  kindness."  Smiling  again,  the 
earl  held  out  his  hand  and  pressed  that  of  the  secretary  with  an  im- 
pressive "  Thank  you— most  sincerely." 


.:iii: 


58 


WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


ht'camclonAcrnna    .inner   The  llomesemu^^^^       ^^^.  ^^^ 

n  smile  of  ««»'»»"«' '""/.J  »onf was  a  qSn  on  which  we  i^^^^ 
Whether  iiv^xreni'ulidouson^^^^^^^^ 

like  to  liiive  hud  Mr.  ^"""*S  a  opm  o".  i,e  really  had  nuy- 

cial.  He  l'«'\K»^^'" 'I;?,  "/IX  of  theToHcc  ooe  that  he  certainty 
thinu'  to  fear  from  '»'c,c"'^''^7,,P,\.  ;!:,iX,l  man.  It  was  true  that. 
wouT.l  not  l'«X«  >^^,''^;° ''iVl'ffi  y  ^^^^^^^  care,  the  Homo 

after  having  sitleit  ^Ir.  Sontag  s  {W  i,i„p,.-  v,„t  hi  warning 
Secretary  had  pronounced  t  to  be  '  >"'  °  ^''  j  .^  ^,,,„„ce.  and  as 
theeail.hewasno  £V,ngthechi^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^  ^.„,^. 

in  ihoomcesot  ^l«?"^^.,^"^;^^t  faiS^^^^  in  Lincoln's 

ttllcd  every  room  in  Iso.  l-^.-f- t"^, '"J^g.i;^^^ 
mn  Fields  which  had  <>"?«  ^^^^^^t^^Jcc      A^«Se  tin  box-marked 
tound  them  engapcd  in  close  X"«°^|..;j„'; ,!"  f.  a.,  deed  "  -lay 
-mate  of  the  ■'«v^^t'-"-t„^nrPntou8  array  ot  papers.  The  faces 
open  on  the  floor,  disclosing  W'«,2  °"' "'g^^^^^^  been  hav- 

oihoth  the  parttiers  "«"«/"«»?i  J  J^^y.i^oEsccptiM      was  very 
ing  an  i.gilated  '^'scussion.    The  earl.  ^M»o  'appreciation  was 

deTicate.  promptly  «PP^f '^'f^VoSs  whe^         spoke, 
conflrmed.by  the  ton«  "U»''^^«^i%S  was  a  middle-aged  stout 
Thesenior  partner.  Mr.  Josepuio^       ,  plebeian  face,  thick 

man.  ot  meduim  \'t'S '»-  Jlth  «  t^J^^'y  \^  ,  ^{^^^  ^  square  fore- 
but  nrm  lips.  « '°V,rihfsS  ot  he  same  ctaracter.  His  gray  eyes 
head,  and  brush-like  T'™'^?'  Zg  short-sighted,  wearing  power- 
were  bright  and  P'-«°l'°«,^/-  B\X'^°  Ilia  lower  face,  closely 
ful  glasses  i"  ,'J,  S°j^f ".^[^"Siin  heavv.  L^^  animal,  but  not 

shaven,  was  full,  "ntj,  "'«;  ^mn  »<-  -  •  ,  ^f  the  senior,  was 
moial  doggedness  Tl^  !  "SaUve  He  whS  daik.  tall,  and  thin, 
strikingly  diflerent  from  >is  '^e'"tnr^  ./  ^  eyes,  and  an  alert,  fop- 
with  rather  tine-cu  tteatmes  W*cMi«  r  a       J^^^^  ^^^ 

pish  manner  ^lo^.'^^^^'^ft'iycoat  ot  somewhat  ancient  cut.  and 
while  the  elder  P'^'-tn«'^T°[^,i^,*^°"i,ich  would  have  been  more  in 
exhibiting  a  tendency  to  pohshwldch^,^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^ 

keepiDK  on  the  8«rtace  ot  ^  muhogy  m  ^  ^  ^  ^^  ^.^n  ^^  ^^^. 

was  the  gentleman  of    '«  pi«  tiers  m^^^^^^  ^^  interviewing 

ful  member,  and  usually  >^«'*^\°;^f_3er  were  to  be  tound  in  the 

arisocratic  clients,  ot  whom  a  l«'f  "™[j,^a7xisted  for  tour  gen- 
long  list  of  the  firm's  c«ie«r.!te.  The  house^^^^^^  ^^,j^  ^^_ 

erations,  having  o^ig'f^'^^^^'^.^Jr^^ieSuot  a  brother,  Mr.  Sanu.el 
tirely  a  family  business.    The  early  "eain  principal  some- 

Pollard,  had  W0V«^^^^^.-n  wTconSstenf  with  the  historic  ante- 

Jta  .»a  .t»ut  b,»lne..  vMch  fX7^^'  «>ld  Ibe  younger  ot 


-ife..,..- 


A     WEEK    OF    I'AS.SI(>\. 


59 


llie  peer's  face 
it  ofl,  too,  Willi 
n  friendly  act. 
•liich  we  should 
y  was  not  juiii- 
reaily  lia<i  nuy- 
hat  lie  ccrlrtinly 
[t  was  true  that, 
care,  the  Homo 
but  in  warning 
:  chance,  and  as 

0  means  ot  con- 
of  the  diBcover- 

1  by  the  partners 
mmense  business 
ion  In  Lincoln's 

chief-justice,  he 
tin  box— marked 

G.,  rft(!V7"-lay 
mpers.  The  faces 

0  have  been  hav- 
ptibility  was  very 
appreciation  was 
loke. 

middle-aged  stout 
ebeian  face,  thick 
ve  a  square  fore- 
ter.  His  gray  eyes 
1,  wearing  power- 
r)wer  face,  closely 
r  animal,  but  not 
of  (he  senior,  was 
Ilk,  tall,  and  thin, 

and  an  alert,  fop- 
curefully  dressed, 
t  ancient  cut,  and 
lave  been  more  in 
r.  Charles  Pollard 
ntalas  well  as  use- 
ity  of  interviewing 

1  to  be  found  in  the 
listed  for  tour  gen- 
nnd  being  still  en- 
rother,  Mr.  Samiel 
3  a  principal  some- 
i  the  historic  ante- 
th  which  these  two 
ain  mixture  ot  de- 
been  talking  about 

said  the  younger  ot 
I  his  uncle,  and  who 


liked  to  Inlerlnril  his  conversaiion  wllh  a  few  Froncii  phrases  he  had 
picked  up  at  haphazard,  for  his  talher  liail  not  done  him  justice  in 
his  education.  At  sixteen,  after  passing  ihrough  a  disfenting  tchool 
in  Stoke  Newington,  jvliere  French  was  regarded  with  suspicion  as 
ft  key  to  niucli  ungodly  literature,  he  liad  been  put  to  training  in  the 
ofHce.  "  We  liave  juet  been  liavitiL'  a  very  anxious  conference  in 
lejrard  to  the  state  of  your  lordship's  alTairs.  You  have,  ot  course, 
perused  tiie  ailvcrtiseinent?" 

"  What  advertisement?"  inquired  the  carl,  wii     vivacitv, 

'•  In  tlie  morning  newspapers,  my  lord,  relalin-  to  Mr.  harton." 

"  No,"  said  the  peer,  with  an  anxiety  which  was  not  allectetl,  and 
which  i>rove(i  that  George  Darton's  suspicion  in  this  respect  liad 
been  unfoundca.  "  Who  has  been  advertising?  and  about  what?" 
llis  tone  was  peremptory  and  insolent. 

"  iMy  lord,"  returned  the  j'ounger  Pollard,  shrinking  from  the 
firm  glance  the  peer  had  fixed  on  him,  and  convinced  that  Ids  client 
was  speaking  candidly,  "  in  a  conference  which— ah— my  partner 
and  1  had  together  yesterday,  with  regard  to  the— ah— very  impleas- 
ant  slate  ot— ah— your  affairs,  and  in  connection  especially  with  tids 
mysterious  disappearance  ot— ah— Mr.  Barton,  we  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  it  would— it  miglit,  my  lord  "—he  looked  at  the  earl 
with  a  subjective  meaning  in  his  glance,  which  seemed  to  puz/.le  the 
latter  for  an  instant—"  be  discreet,  1  might  say  a  good  couj),  for  us 
—your  lordship,  you  know,  and  ourselves— to  appear  on  the  scene, 
and  evince  some  anxiety  to  discover  the  whereabjuts  of  your  late— 
1  meant  to  say  of  Mr.  Barton." 

"  Certainly.  Why  not?  That  is  precisely  what  1  came  here  to 
urge  you  to  use  every  effort  to  discover. " 

Mr.  Joseph  Pollard  moved  uneasily  in  his  chair,    '  *  • 

"  So,  my  loid,"  continued  Mr.  Charles,  "  we  drew  up  this  adver- 
tisement, which  we  supposed  would  have  met  your  lordship's  eye." 
He  took  up  a  newspaper  trom  the  table. 

The  earl,  with  a  nervous  movement,  snatched  it  out  ot  the  solic- 
itor's hand,  and  ran  his  eyes  over  it  in  a  couple  of  seconds.  Uls 
face  expressed  a  vivid  dissatisfaction. 

"  I  wish,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  with  some  asperity,  "you  would 
consult  me  before  you  take  important  action  like  this  in  my  name 
and  concerning  my  affairs." 

"  Well,  my  lord,"  said  the  elder  Pollard,  who  had  been  sitting 
silently  watching  the  peer  through  his  glasses,  and  now  spoke  with 
a  suppressed  defiance  in  his  tone,  "  as  the  matter  is  in  our  hands, 
and  to  some  extent— 1  must  remind  your  lordship— concerns  us 
jointly,  we  thought  we  might  take  the  not  very  important  step  we 
have  done  without  troubling  your  lordship." 

I'here  was  a  curiously  signi'ticant  undertone  in  the  slow,  deliberate 
utterance  of  the  speaker  which  struck  the  earl  unpleasantly.  He 
glanced  quickly  fiom  one  to  the  other,  and  for  a  moment  his  «vonted 
hardiness  and  aphmb  appeared  to  have  forsaken  him— he  even  low- 
ered his  eyes  under  the  glassy  stare  of  the  attorney.  But  he  recov- 
ered himself  instantly. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  in  a  cold,  stern  voice,  '*  circumstances 
have,  to  some  extent— as  Mr.  .Joseph  Pollard  has  expressed— placed 
me  in  rather  disagreeable  co-relations  with  you,  in  a  matter  which 


60 


WEEK    OF    PASSIOK. 


I. 


concern,  n,y  c^--ctor  nml  J^^lon  -1  ;^^^  WS al^o'un '^b 
are  iiw.iie  ot  the  iiD-xk-ly  11''^'"' 'j\''^.";"  "'"•., i|Ue„  from  the 

ii  large  portion  "f  ni>   '""""^'  V/,  .leifree  to  misplacca  contidi'iicc 

the  enri  Imd  already  admiueil  it.        We  lm%_e  '''' ^^^^^      .     ^^  ^.i,,^ 
^vr^ting  it  it »«  "<;~;>;J^^^^^^^^^^  Xe  mi.eeptiblc  peer 

lisiipiiiss 

^^^^rr^^l^r^iSrit-lf  Sier  to  mycredit-nor  to 

^°S  two  legal  gentlemen  .hrug«ed  J^eir  .hould^^^^^ 

their  palms,  and  gazed  at  each  o'^^^^/'VJ^'''""!  two  angels,  into 
which  might  have  been  expressed  by  "  «  ^est^sovwoange   ,^ 

whose  fair  laces  8°'"^«•'t"'  .Vns    h     tL  kind  o    grltit^ude  they 

the  speaker.  „  ^j     situation  lias  been  mado 

pression. 


rei 

IStll 

un 
rtM 
.'I  I 
goi 
crl 
un 
tri( 

spl 

Hi 

wii 

tru 

of 

otli 

stii 

ear 

jcc 

wu 

sav 

we 

bee 

tha 

— n 

do 

but 

ma 

all 
out 

the 
in  \ 
he 
pro 
snn 
hoo 
pen 
seal 
S 
eitli 
the 
Son 
assf 
con 
itse] 


A     WEEK    OP    PASSION. 


CI 


e«  yours.  \  oa 
!  nlso  witnesses 
lysclf  from  llio 
met  sny  it- by 
jrhich  von  pur- 

untorlunivUily, 
jn  tlmt,  ir  1  im- 
liich  luy  iiouor, 
society"  nro  im- 
icpil  contiili'iiiM' 
1  assure  you  I 

nllowed  niysclt 
)ial)lc  ami  crini- 

•0  Btnl  loolv, 
ciicumstunces," 
lier  wfiiilily,  lot 
LI  prools  here  ia 
ho  poinli'il  with 
BU8(;eptil)lc  peer 
[\t  tin  l)ox  lying 
iijj;,  thtit  it  quan- 
r  it  uninnitacha- 
iirl  Involiintarily 
Uio  woitliy  part- 
remor  passed  tor 
lin,  with  II  lively 

ly  credit— nor  to 

■8,  and  ttirueil  out 
ot  astonishment 
if  two  angels,  into 
L-n  trying  to  save 
ot  gratitude  they 
ing  compromised 
I  a  perilous  situa- 

mnch  devotiou,  " 
ttd  hence  the  awk- 
1,  Your  lordship 
■ofessional  reputa- 
peril?" 

B  tragic  solemnity 
ords.  The  humor 
ooUed  curiously  at 

Ion  has  been  made 
tely  happened." 
liter  for  both  your- 
to  transpire,"  said 
,h  a  malevoleut  ex- 


■  "  Possibly,"  snid  the  eiirl,  "  though  1  do  not  think  (hat  those  con- 

■  rernt'd  would  be  likely  to  treat  it  as  such.    Mv  preoccupation,  Mr. 

■  Pollard,  unlike  yours,  1ms  not  been  to  save  m>selt  Ironi  a  crimlnai 

■  piocusB,  or  trom  the  Icfiul  conseciuences  of  my  own  wrong  and  fool- 

■  ish  acts.    If  1  irnve  been  anxious,  at  whatever  sactlflco,  lo  have  that 

■  unforlunato  allnli  settled,  it  is  because  1  iiave  deeply  and  sincerely 

■  regretted  I  he  course  1  took;  it  ia  because  a  disclosure  would  wound 

■  ,1  uunibfr  ot  innocent  and  hononiblo  relatives  and  friends,  whoso 

■  good  opinion   1  should  lose  forever  it  tliey  cair.c  to  know  of  my 

■  criminal  weakness;  it  Is  because  1  would  save  others  from  a  great 

■  unliappiness,  and  not  alone.  1  hope,  Irom  the  scKlsh  motive  ot  ex- 

■  tricutlng  myself  from  an  odious  position." 

■  'I'ho  earl  had  risen,  and  ilclivered  these  words  with  foice  and 

■  spirit. 

■  The  partners  were  evidently  disconcerted   by  the  high  tone  adopt- 

■  ed  toward  them  by  the  man  who  owned  to  having  been  concerned 
with  them  in  a  questionahle,  or,  as  he  termed  it.  a  "criminal" 
transaction.  Ills  attltudu  was  unexpected;  it  dislocated  some  line 
of  action  on  which  they  had  previously  settled,  hach  looked  iit  Iho 
other,  as  if  to  innulrc  what  card  lie  was  to  play  in  the  new  circum- 
stances ot  the  game.  Air.  Charles  Pollard,  liowover,  answered  the 
earl. 

'•  Well,  my  lord,"  he  said,  blandly,  "  is  not  this  precisely  the  ob- 
ject we  have  in  view?  \Vc  always  thouirht  that  your  lordship  ex- 
aggerated the  imporlanco  of  the  bearings  of  thattraniaction.  ^'eithe^ 
we  nor  you  had  any  criminal  intentioii.  The  object  simplv  was  to 
save  vou  trom  inconvenience  and  a  great  loss.  All  would  haveirono 
well  but  for  the  intervention  of  .Mr.  Barton  in  the  business,  and  his 
becoming  cognizant  ot  tacts  which  need  never  have  gone  further 
than  your  lordship  and  ourselves.  In  some  aspects  ot  the  case,  his 
—ah— disappearance,  to  whatever  circumstances  it  may  be  duo,  is— 
do  you  not  think?— a  distinct  relief  We  have  nothing  now  to  do 
but  to  complete  the  arrangemenU  which  will  secure  the  burial  of  the 
matter  in  oblivion." 

•  My  partner  is  quite  right,"  said  Mr.  Joseph  Pollard.  "  We  are 
all  three  in  the  same  l)oat;  the  question  is  liow  we  can  best  extricate 
ourselves  from  the  diflicult  position  in  which  we  are  placed." 

Something  like  an  electric  shock  went  through  the  peer's  body  at 
these  blunt  worils.  His  face  assumed  an  extraordinary  expression, 
in  which  shame,  revolted  pride,  and  diplomatic  caution  seemed  to 
l)e  struggling  tor  mastery.  He,  the  tenth  earl,  and  one  of  the 
proudest  and  most  eminent  of  the  English  aristocracy,  "  lu  tho 
same  boat "  with  a  couple  of  vulgar  attorneys!  Tho  splendor  and 
honor  of  his  peerage,  his  supremacy  in  politics  and  society,  his  own 
personal  character,  and  his  Immense  forlune,  thrown  into  the  same 
scale  with  the  interests  of  a  couple  of  money-grubbing  solicitors! 

Such  a  thought  Hashed  across  his  ndnd,  but  he  was  abler  thaa 
either  ot  his  interlocutors,  a  diplomatist  of  the  first  order,  with  all 
the  advantages  ot  social  superiority,  lie  summoned  all  his  forces. 
Somctiiing  told  him  (be  moment  was  critical.  Even  in  this  base 
association  he  had  a  moral  stipremacy.  Even  in  this  inicjuitous 
combination  the  superiority  of  his  rank  and  social  uositioa  asserted 
itself. 


02 


A     WEEK    OV    I'AaSlON. 


„on.  "  it  .v..  lire  an  y"'';''  ;.     •„;'!'  .i^rario  .nk.  H.e  •l.el.n? 
leant   llun   periu.l  X\  1*^       kj  cu       1  m^l  I  i»  '-rouKU  "■>  ll.l>»  un- 

nlfiisiinl  vll«cut*Hioii.     1  muilc    ''^'^|\  .  ""'  ,  ^  p,„,r  ISiirlon  wuh  ono 

Vou  ou^ht  nolto  have  '"  ^J- '  >v   l^oi.l     I'"  ^^    i*",!,  aavlsal.    The 

„<,vi;  ot  It;  I  do  not  hw  tl  o  o^Ji'i-l  «•'"•-  J  "',  ,  ,„^  y„„r 

!,„r..  1  rolU-cl  ..POM  '^ '':^:,  ,u.V    Vt  K    v     .     w  «  anuoytll  at 

;|,oorvof  llttrto.i'H  ilisMi.peanin  ('.     '^     "'Y,  ^^/^^   j  uantily  a.Ioplfil 

y„..r  suggcBtio..-    tcu.e.   tL.^l   omcl.    K  »;  |J^«^,,.„,  ^i,,..  „„  ,„ 
co..nlH.     Now  1  .loubt  1  .     ;y   >'  ';  '\'^  ,,oif,,,v     lie  was  iMinaned 

then^-if  he  had  tl-'\^,„  J^^.S^'perrof^dl^^^^         Wha!  - 

arc  not  "<-"f>V'^»''"  ,^%°"    "\\'o?ijrnentB  to  ?    And  that  l.riugs  «.e 

earth  would  he  carry  »"  ,  ^  ,  ?i^t v  tr.r  two  reasottB.   First,  before 

to  this  advert IbCjoDt.    It  a  "'1'^  >  ^'^^i^/g  aiZpeared.  it  would 

makinfr  p..bllc  the  t&cl  ll''}^   "^  "f  ^^'^  ,'^"0^^^^^^ 

surely 'have  been  ^'^"il'.f  ^oLdW    bJ  foirot  the  ndv'ertisenient 
private  detective  n!j«"cu».  Secondly,  im-ioin  ^^^^^ 

8  objectionabe    ^«»  «"F^/o  "^^^'^L..  risk  an  exiwsvire  ot  the 
ments:    Thl«  i.  '"^.^^^'/S'^JSin^     No  o^   knows  ot  the  ex- 

[KJundtaTu  t^i  'a  I^^Z^  to  .eet  so.e  uuex- 
^•t^J  Si  ^S^f^^^^^X:^^^      explanation. 

rrirg^rrmarweKtraiSumr.  ana  where  are  those 

^Sdng  with  a  good  deal  ot  ene^K^^^^^^  ac^ 

were  a  j.idge  '°S"~«'^"°fn?h  s  tlow^con  pira  ors.  the  earl,  as  he 

brli^SrffS'XJir^ErKad  been  sitting 


V 

A 

SI 
b 

v 

81 
S( 
t( 
t) 

h 

Cl 


II 
r 

8( 
U 

81 

W 

b( 
ni 
di 
B 
w 

in 

tL 
m 
ui 
yc 
q> 

to 

th 
se 
cL 


garcntillc  intoim- 
bout."  w\\\  .V"<i  "I 

0  lnk<'  Uif  lifliii? 
nifjlil  on  tills  un- 
iitli  llml  Cliu  Hlip 
[)r  ISiirliiii  wiiH  ono 
uf.     1  lit)  i>i>t  np- 

1  111  ml  vised.  The 
n'd  to  uccT'pt  your 
1  I  \vii8  iiunoytil  ut 

1  Imsllly  udopltHl 
lie  wiong  111  Ills  ttc- 
onient  wliun  ho  so 
Ilo  was  iMiKHHod 
out  the  record  ot  ii 
respouslble.     Why 

iler  PoUiira.  jutli- 
mnn'oeriniinnl  or 
eul  for  twenty  live 
nccouuts." 
ivery  year  by  Twy- 

,  could  he  do  wUU 
I.  \ou  know  they 
utectloii.  What  on 
And  that  brings  me 
iwonH.  First,  before 
sappenred,  it  would 
es  of  the  poliee  and 
of  the  ndverliseinent 
f  the  niiasing  docu- 

an  exiiosure  ol  tbo 
me  knows  ot  the  ex- 
cept ourselves.  You 
bout  U  to  her  sou.  on 

10  meet  some  uues- 

rrassed. 

lucst  an  explanaliou. 
f  that  Barton  should 
thought  he  had  done 
Honie  dilllcullies  had 
d  to  the  lernis  of  that 
and  where  are  those 

rlvacUy,  and  as  it  he 
388,  rathei  than  an  ac- 
irators,  the  earl,  as  ho 
dward  the  senior  part- 
d  keenness  that  mJKht 
lie  had  been  sitting 


\    WI'KK    or    I'A.SSIOV.  (§ 

bftoro  Lord  HpUn-  with  hi*  licad  bdiwmi  IiIm  iliouldcrx,  imd  hf^  two 
fat  hands  cluiipod  togHlier  In  a  lump  on  hJM  solid  piiiini  h  \V|,pn 
this  quiTv.  "lined  at  lilni  like  a  tocket,  middcnly  burst  upon  him  lu- 
Hlnrtcd.  Ilifi  f.'lft«srg  lurneil  IntcrroKallvely  lo  bin  nephew,  who  «  lih 
a  ncrvou*  movement  of  hli  head,  throw  an  uneasy  glance  at  bit 

'Ihc  carl  (iurprl«pd  IhM  cxcliango  of  look«. 

'1 1  Kay  niiain,  .Mr.  Pollard,  where  arc  they?" 

"My  lonl,"  nald  the  younger  of  llio  two  nollcitors,  "  vnu  will 
nave  observed  ihu  adverllsenient  nays  —  " 

"  D— n  the  iidverllsenicnt,  sir," "interrupted  Ihn  eail,  rmsinK  h!« 
void,  and  Hpenk  n«  In  a  tuiy.  "  The  M(lveitt«cnienl  iireten.ls  that 
Mr.  Barton  mill  has  tliox"  docunienls,  which  it  had  lieen  aurcod  — 
Nettled— shoiiNI  \w  given  up  (o  vou,  and.  as  1  liad  every  rcKson  to 
suppose  bail  boon  placed  in  your  liandH,  In  !aci.  this  niornlnc. 
bv  pure  Inward  n  lew  mlnnten  before  I  ciime  here.  1  had  an  Jntc-r' 
view  with  young  George  llarton,  who,  1  can  tell  j'oii,  is  a  youth  of 
snrpriHlng  ability,  and  by  no  nicniis  to  l>c  trilled  wllli.  fie  Is  re- 
solved to  fift  the  whole  business  to  the  bottom.  Mr.  Oeori;e  Rnr- 
lon,  jnnlor.  then  Informed  me  that  lils  father  had  banded  von  all 
till  documents— had  taken  your  leccipt  for  tbem;  a  riceipt' which 
ids  son  peruBcd,  and  of  which,  I  l>ellcvo,  he  has  a  copy.  That  re- 
ceipt, 1  understand,  wasdntedon  the  previous  Saturday  or  Monday  " 

riio  partners  looked  at  one  HnolLcr,  and  at  the  carl,  with  im- 
telL'ned  astonislimcnt. 

«"  )."!,""■',  '^"'.'""'^  "''""y  ''•'^'""'  f^"')'  'o  ''0  surpassed,"  said  old 
Mr.  Pollard,  "  by  bis  fnther'.s  indiscretion  and  want  of  good  tnilh. 
lie  has  cvi(  ently  shown  to  bl.q  son  a  paper  which  he  was  bound  by 
profesfiona  honor,  ami  by  bis  duty  and  obligations  to  you,  to  keep 
secret.  1  Ilia  throws  a  good  deal  ot  light  on  his  charncter.  1  con- 
fesH  I  am  deeply  dinnppointed  to  bear  this  of  him." 

"  Never  mind  George  barton's  character  just  now.  Mr.  Pollard  " 
said  the  earl,  coollj .     "  Was  there  such  a  receipt  in  existence?"   ' 

My  lord,  this  was  precisely  ono  of  the  matters  on  whicli  we 
were  going  to  speak  lo  you,"  replied  Mr.  Pollard,  "if  it  had  not 
been  i.rematuiely  brought  forward  in  thls-ah— somewliat  unpleas- 
ant manner.  There  was  such  a  receipt,  and  we  reirrctlcd  to  have 
discovered  only  this  morning,  (hat,  in  our  blind  confidence  In  Mr 
Jiniton,  we  had  carelessly  omitltd  to  ask  bim  to  return  it  to  us  when 
we  handed  him  back  the  papers." 
"  \ou  handed  him  back  the  papersi"  cried  the  earl,  not  nttemnt- 
ing  to  conceal  the  incre<lulily  of  his  look  and  tone. 

"  ^^'''  roplitd  Mr.  .Joseph  Pollard,  calmly  gazing  at  the  peer 
through  lis  spectacles,  "it  l«  perfectly  true;  although  It  nas  a 
matter  which  ought  not,  under  any  circumsfancjs.  Lord  Sclby— . 
under— nny-circumslances  whatever— lo  have  been  conhdeci  to  a 
young  man  (piito  disconnected  from  the  business,  and  api>arentlv 
quite  lacking  in  discretion,  since  he  should  have  addressed  liimseft 
to  us,  and  not  to  you,  It  he  had  any  communications  to  make  re- 
garding it.  1  say  it  is  perfectly  correct  that  Mr.  Barton  broujrht 
those  papers  here— on  Friday  or  Saturday,  1  tSdnk— "  said  Mr  Jo- 
seph, with  the  air  of  a  man  whose  memory  was  too  valuable  to  be 
charged  with  a  matter  of  small  importance— 


w. 


e4 


A    WKEK    OF    PASSION. 


""'^^^^^^T^^  the  nephew,  nue  a  teuor  In  au 
''^''''^u  l^mlon  called  here.    He  sei-n>ed  agitated  nnd  out  of  Sorts 

after  he  bad  left?" 

dav-and  he  threw  out  a  hint—  . 
':  ^Siotr  iS    -SS  «  .r.i.g  .l,.sc  Occu™»U  10 

S     1.™  "yS,  Incased,  in  «1>,  vie^>^  Iho™ 

Uhe  documents  would  disappear  ^^^^^  ^^.^  j^,j^^^. 


•r 


JN. 


right;  whenever  it  was, 
t  WHS  given  for  them  iu 
weie  placed  in  our  sale, 


uin.    On  the  nflernoon, 

)hew,  Hive  n  tenor  in  an 

igitatecl  nnd  out  of  Sorts, 
itions  as  to  the  part  which 
)nsiclered  to  be  extremely 

ibserves.  1  tliinlt,  Charles, 
ner,  and  remarked  upon  it 

running  on  merrily.  By 
'.  Joseph  had  managed  to 
■  that  was  to  be  sung, 
ills  suspicions,  or  whether 
rdinary  amount  of  work, 
the  past  few  weeks  had 
nre  not  accustomed  to  the 
are  forced  to  endure  every  . 

larling  those  documents  io 
comiileted,  and  especially 
)ur  written  instructions  to 
juished  by  this  line,  but  of 
lut  of  the  safe  and  handed 
g,  and  we  never  saw  them 
jurview,  the  suspiciousness 

o  h«d  been  listening  to  all 

•atched  the  laces  of  the  two 

p" 

'ollard,  with  a  smile,  "we 

my  fault.    But  in  any  case 

itlcr  of  much  consequence. 

'  thiit  both  Mr.  Barton  and 

ihould  affirm  that  his  fallier 
the  Temple,  where  he  was 
your  theory?"  inquired  the 
heir  explanation. 
Polhird,  with  an  ingenuous 
I'-  theory  about  a  clisappear- 
suppose  Mr.  Barton  would 
all.    He  ought,  1  presume, 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSrOJT.  65 

to  have  deposited  tliein  at  your  bankers.  We  thought  so  at  least, 
and  we  accordingly  in(iuire<l  ou  your  behalf,  and  you  remember 
we  reported  to  you  that  tiiey  were  iiot  in  their  hands." 

"  Tliiit  is  true,"  said  the  earl,  struck  by  this  leinark.  "  lu  that 
case  Barton  should  have  taken  the  papers  to  the  hankers.  It  is  in- 
explicable. You  did  not  mention  to  mo  before,  by  the  wav,  this 
ngiliiiion  in  Barton's  manner  of  whicli  you  now  speak,  and  the 
words  that  Imd  passed  between  you." 

"  Tiie  truth  is,  my  lord,  that  since  this  unfortunate  disappear- 
ance, and  what  with  our  other  an.xiclieR  and  the  perilous  condition 
ot  the  Earl  of  Tilbury,  we  have  hardly  had  time  to  consider  the  ex- 
act lienring  of  these  little  circumstances  upon  the  mystery  of  Mr. 
Barton's  conduct.  AVe  intended  to  have  told  you  of  this  to  day.  Ot 
course,  it  miiy  lie  unimportant,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  may  help 
to  throw  some  light  on  the  mystery." 

"  It  maj-,"  said  the  peer,  thoughtfully.  "  George  Barton  had  one 
of  the  hardest  heads  1  ever  saiv.  I)ut  of  late  he  iias  been  fearfully 
worried  and  over«iorkea.  By  the  way,"  lie  added,  suddenly  rf col- 
lecting himself,  "  )  met  the  Home  Secretary  on  my  wav  here.  He 
is  an  obliging  person,  and  seems  to  be  proud  of  his  connection  with 
the  control  of  the  police— he  amused  me  by  calling  himself  the 
'  head-polieem'in.'  It  apears  tiie  detectives  in  Scotland  Yard  have 
taken  the  crazy  notion  into  their  heads  that  the  victim  of  tliat 
strange  calamity  in  Regent  Circus,  which  had  such  dire  results  for 
poor  Tilbury,  was  none  other  than  Barton." 

The  two  partners  star fe<l,  and  their  faces  grew  pale,  whether  with 
consternation  or  horror  or  surprise  it  was  impossible  to  distinguish, 
"  George  Barton!"  they  cried  in  chorus.  '■' liidiculousi" 
"  Bidiculous,  as  you  say.  And,  it  true,  one  of  the  most  astound- 
ing marvels  in  the  chapter  of  accidents  which  the  world  has  ever 
witnessed.  George  Barton  himself  dying  in  this  extraordinary  way, 
and  nearly  killing  at  the  same  time  a  peer,  the  accounts  of  whose 
estates  he  was  engaged  in  winding  up.  Such  a  fortuitous  concourse 
of  circumslances  would  be  without  parallel  even  in  fiction— outside 
the  •  Thousand  amf  One  Nights  '  or  '  Baron  Munchausen!'  Still. 
they  are  not  without  grounds  for  their  suspicion,  loung  Barton  is 
so  persuaded  of  the  truth  of  it  that  he  has  put  on  mourning,  and  1 
am  satisfied  he  is  sincere.  Tliey  have  hit  upon  some  very  singular 
flnd  striking  coincidences.  George  Barton  tells  me  he  is  prepared  to 
swear  that  the  hand  found  on  tlie  roof  in  Oxford  Street  is  that  or 
his  father.  It  seems  my  agent  had  some  special  deformity  in  the 
little  finger  of  his  right  hand,  though  for  all  the  years  1  knew  him  1 
had  never  noticed  it.  The  young  man  showed  me  that  he  also  has  a 
similar  peculiarity  inherited  from  the  father.  Again,  the  police 
have  found  a  minute  particle  of  a  watch-dial,  with  lettering  similar 
to  that  on  a  watch  1  gave  to  Mr.  Barton  myself— one  of  Frod- 
sham's.    The.se  facts  are  very  curious,  to  say  the  least  of  it." 

The  partners  smiled  in  a  somewhat  constrained  manner,  and  the 
nephew  remarked, 

"  They  are  always  finding  mare's  nests  in  Scotland  Yard.    It  is 
quite  a  repertoii-e  ot  them." 

The  peer  was  too  preoccupied  to  notice  the  peculiarity  of  Mr. 
Charles  Pollard's  solecisms, 
3 


66 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


p' 


pliiloBopbical  apothegms.  ,„nbnsb  "  said  the  earl.     "  At 

^  "  fle  may  l.ave  1*^^'°  'f  °J°'^f/^oScw  more  incisive,  and 
all  evenU.  gentlemen  -and  b^™  l  s  |0"'^  »  j^  t„  jiruca  all 

arrested  tbei.;  '{^^[fS^r:/J^.^ty^o  the  s^^^^^^^^^^  the  question  at 
your  practical  ski  1  and  mgtnuuyioi.«-  commence  aa 

Snce-AVbat  bos  ^''^come  of  bim?  Tie  P^^'^^^^^^t,  ^„a  transac- 
SSf  iubS'S  lo  me^rtaU  [eeTobliged  to  give  tbem  at  least 
'^'J^r^f  StVsitclP'cried  each  ot  the  purlners.  in  undis- 
«"^f sir  V  tl.  eari ; ;;  I  s.^  -  ne^^  ^.y  anytljh^ 

memory  oi  «•' ';°°°'*^L^,,Se KecSsS  to  sacri       myselt.' 
not  hesitate,  i£  it  were  »V*°'" K^,j?nni  in  a  deep,  indignant  voice. 
"  And  US'."  said  Mr.  Joseph  Pollard,  '^  a^^^p  i      ^,  ^^  ^^^^^  ^^ 

"Take  care,  my  lord,  what  you  do      ^«"  ^^'^^ij^^  with  Lady 

hold  up  your  hpad  again  it  y»"  f '^^/^^^  which  Mr.  Barton  was  en- 
Tilbuty.  and  "'e/f  icate  attairs  upon  wnic  ^^  ^  ^^^ 

tect  ourselves."  ,     ^^d  sternly, 

•'  What  consideration,  sir?  s*''^,;"'^.^";'^^  i,iuerly  the  conse- 
oflEended  at  the  menace  ^,,V"^yf„  ^"'iVwas  your  evil  sugsesiioa 
quences  of  my  relations  ^'^^  JV""  „^  .^^r  of  i^cutc  crisisT  led  me 
!^hich,  working  on  "1/ J'f  k^i  '  V^,ow  cu?  oft  my  right  hand- 
l?£lfm  iS.  loCl  St"aVwiped  ou\  ot  the  recor. 
°'Mr^  c'bXpollard,  alarmed  at  the  rising  storm,  hastened  to  in- 

"T^Si  uncle  has  been  a  little  £^  -^Syoiir  "nTer^  o1 
not  mean  tooftend  you  .JJ?  ^^/^Jf  St^yorwould  teel  it  necessary 
course  it  is  only  in  ^he  \a»yc^o"  ^^^^^  \q  tiig  police.  I  don't  see 
to  aftord  any  compromising  particulars  to  ineix,  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^ 

that  such  a  necessity  can  f^^' "'«\  "^J£y  of  Mr.  Barton.  It 
to  join  you  in  hclP.'°g'«„^l""  tor  sSso-that  instead  of  dis- 
see^s  to  me-you  will  torglye  ™«  *''"*y;^|ui(i  ^  much  more  use- 
puting  about  tlje  course  to  be  taken,  we  sl'O"'^  "^     ^^  ^hsence  o£ 

aXKo^pMe  £  s^'uSn^vrbad  arrived  at,  and  free 


a 

i] 
a 
o 

V 
o 

b 

si 

h 

h 

P 

ei 
ai 
ic 
tl 
u 
ai 


rd.    Baitoii  was 
lefin  mad." 
cl  tlie  elder  Pol- 
In  these  da.vs  of 
rralious  ot  iatel- 

idmiralioD  al  hi» 
lot  Mi.  PoUard'B 

id  the  earl.  "  At 
acre  incisive,  and 
ougU  to  direct  all 
)f  the  question  at 
,ill  commence  aa 
mta  and  transac- 
give  them  at  least 

larlners,  in  undis- 

ly  betray  anything 
u  would  call  it? — 
.  and  to  spare  the 

I  certainly  should 
crificemj'selt." 

p,  iudisnant  voice. 

II  never  be  able  to 
isactlon  with  Lady 
Mr.  Barton  was  en- 
right  to  betray  our 
,  we  are  entitled  to 
lat,  you  will  undcr- 
ssible  means  to  pro- 

coldly  and  sternly, 
bitterly  the  conse- 
■our  evil  suggestion 
acute  crisis,  led  me 
)ft  my  riRbt  hand- 
ed out  ot  the  record 

orm,  hastened  to  in- 

.  1  am  sure  he  did 
your  intentions.  Of 
Juki  teel  It  necessary 

police.     I  don't  see 
we  should  l)ethe  first 

of  Mr.  Barton.      It 

, that  instead  ot  di»- 

d  be  much  more  use- 
utilize  the  absence  o£ 
I  arrived  at,  and  free 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSrOX. 


67 


your  lordship's  mind  from  any  further  anxiety  about  llie  transac- 
tion which  has  given  your  lordship  so  much  pain." 

"  In  'utilizing  tlie  absence  of  Mr.  Barton,'  '  replied  the  peer, 
with  sarcastic  emphasis,  "  let  it  at  least  be  understood  that,  unless 
indubitable  evidence  of  liis  wrong-doing  is  forthcoming,  we  shall  on 
no  lucount,  through  any  reticence  on  oui  part,  leave  a  tarnish  on 
the  reputation  of  an  honest  man.  You  see,  gentlemen,"  he  added, 
bitterly,  "  1  have  become  suddenly  virtuous— which  perhaps  aston- 
ishes you— and  new  converts  are  apt  to  be  exaggerated  in  their  en- 
thusiasm. However,  1  have  said  all  1  wish  to  say —go  on  with  the 
settlement  of  that  business.  1  believe  you  have  prepared  the  draft 
ot  the  Kenaingfon  mortgage.  As  soon  as  you  can  get  it  engrossed  1 
will  execute  the  deed.  And  leave  no  stone  unturned,  1  beg  of  you, 
to  .solve  the  fate  of  George  Barton.    1  must  wish  you  good-day." 

As  he  turned  his  bacii  to  go  to  the  door  the  two  partners,  whose 
faces  were  vividly  pale  and  troubled,  exchanged  a  glance. 

"  But,  my  lord,"  said  the  senior,  who  stood  nervously  passing  his 
hands  over  eacli  other  in  the  invisible  soap- washing  manner,  "  sup- 
posimr  it  should— unhappily— turn  out— that  the  individual— who— 
who  came  to  so  untimelr  an  end  in  the  Circus  was  Mr,  Barton,  what 
would  your  lordship— ah— feel  it  to  be  our  duty  to  do?" 

"In  that  case,"  replied  the  earl,  suddenly  turning  round— he  liad 
been  listening  to  tiie  speaker  half  over  his  shoulder— and  fixing  his 
strange,  inscrutable,  but  most  scrutinizing  glance  on  Mr.  Pollard, 
"  1  should  authorize  the  chief  commissioner  to  offer  in  my  name 
a  reward  of  £2,000  for  the  discovery  of  the  murderer;  tor  to  sup- 
pose George  Barton  to  be  going  about  T<ondon  with  a  pot  of  nitro- 
glycerine or  a  dynamite  cartridge  in  his  pocliet,  when  he  was  never 
known  to  handle  a  gun  because  of  his  horror  of  gunpowder,  is  as 
incredible  as  to  suppose  he  is  hiding  in  (he  moor  " 

Tlie  way  out  ot  tlie  sanctum  led  through  an  outer  office  in  which 
a  number  of  clerks  were  at  work.  Mr.  Charles  Pollard  accompanieci 
•the  earl  to  the  door,  showing  him  an  exaggerated  politeness,  and 
aflecling  to  exchange  with  him  familiar  observations  about  the  state 
of  the  crops.  Tliis  little  by-play,  intended  to  imoress  his  clerks 
with  his  importance,  was  unfortunately  not  so  effective  as  he  sup- 
posed, havinsr  long  been  seen  through  by  those  acute  and  irreverent 
observers. 

"  There  is  '  Charlie,'  putting  on  all  the  side  he  can  with  old  Sel- 
by,"  wnispered  a  sucking  attorney  in  articles  to  an  old  clerk  at  his 
side,  who  was  drafting  a  statement  of  case  for  counsel. 

The  other  nodded  with  a  subdued  smile,  but  did  not  reply.  He 
bad  been  thirty  years  sitting  at  the  same  desk,  and  during  tliat 
period  had  bad  time  to  reflect  on  the  golden  virtue  of  silence.  But 
be  was  none  the  less  observant.  His  sharp  eye  had  taken  in  the  ex- 
pression on  the  earl's  face,  and  on  that  of  JVIr.  Charles,  as  thty 
emerged  from  that  inner  room  facetiously  termed  "  the  dock,'^' 
among  ttie  minor  clerks;  his  trained  ear  had  caught  some  false  notes 
in  his  employer's  voice.  As  the  latter  passed  again  on  his  return, 
this  curious  person  managed  to  glance  at  him,  unnoticed,  from 
under  his  shaggy  eyebrows.  He  saw  a  strange  pallor  in  liis  face, 
and  marked  the  drawn-down  corners  of  his  smooth-shaven  lips. 

"  There  is  certainly  something  queer  in  the  wind  about  this  Bar- 


68 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOK. 


I? 


ion  business  "  was  the  oUl  ninu's  reflection,  liut  he  did  not  make 

and  liis  heiid  reappeared. 
The'cmZmaned,  rose,  and  entered  the  room.    Both  the  pnrt- 

""•ShuT  tile  door,  Mr.  Grayson.    You  are  our  oldesi  clerk.  Mr. 
Gravson   nnd     e  a  e  goin?  to' Rive  you  a  proot  of  our  confidence  n 

£  ot  llretlds  in  the  direcion  of  ,l^'n-[;i'\i?-,,^,V\^ir;  vll 
for  us  to  know  where  he  is  Koiug  to     Take  \'i  «  ,X;; '^u'^^^^^^ 

n-liereis  ten  shillings.     Be  cautious,  pleixse,  and  don  t  return 
,;?JlIouI  tie  information,  and,  understand  again,  this  ,s  strictly  se- 

"wZulie  "clerk  had  gone  out  the  two  solicitors  threw  themselves 
D  eitlier  brow,  and  tlieir  shirts  were  clingiUK  to  the  r  slim  as  it  t  ey 

wise  by  liarlon's-lieml-disappearance,  but,  Charlie,  i  i-ii  >ou  u.s 
P^r^i^olireiSasi^thlfrclicking  his  lips  together  in  a 

manlier  he  liad  when  he  wished  to  be  decided. 
Tliev  were  silent  again  for  a  tew  seconds. 
"We  di'd  all  we  could.  1  think?"  said  Mr.  Charles.  „ 

"  Everythfng     But  he  ran  away  from  us  the  first  moment,    said 

^^^r.  i^S^'ioBonli  1  never  saw  you  more  masterly-thut  oxpiauiilion 
tha,  c»liamiSHrl"ud  »t  mL.    she  1.  lying  off  U.«.«se»<l,  r«ay 


t, 


,  lie  did  not  make 

A  moment  alter, 

ilied  opened  again. 


m.    Both  the  pnrt- 

oklesf  clerk,  Mr. 
f  our  confidence  in 
.  Vou  know  liini 
ing  alonir  the  south 
lu.  It  is  iniporlaiit 
s  brief,  which  will 
ixtable's  chambers, 
le  door,  and  take  a 
jsarj'  to  follow  him 
,  and  don't  retura 
,  this  19  strictly  se- 

rs  threw  tlicmselvcs 
oseph  Pollard  was  a 
anie  and  substance 
:as  a  damp  secretion 
their  skin  as  it  tliey 
so  tliey  had.  It  had 
if  a  while.  The  least 

I  a  thing  f 
"  1  cau't  understand 
the  same  man.     He 
relieved  than  other- 
iharlie,  1  tall  you  his 

lis  lips  together  in  a 


harles. 

!  first  moment,' 


said 


rly— that  explauidion 
litert  laTallci/roiir/." 
oseph.  ■  ■  I  tell  you, 
pretty  serious.  This 
iks  blue.    SupDOsing 

cried  the  more  viva- 
r  in  his  lace, 
orld!"  said  the  other, 

can  satisfy  ourselves 
ition  that  he  did.  We 
ranged  for?" 

of  Vales— vou  know 
'  oH  Uravesend,  ready 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


C9 


^8^^'^^P  Steam  any  moment,  and  the  crew  can  be  relied  on  for  many 

«„I^H  t?^'  T't  ?''  "l"^*''  '^■"•'  '"8  "sual  stately  deliberation,  ne 
passed  through  Linrolu's  Inn.  down  Chancery  Lane,  and  throuuh 
the  gate-way  of  the  Middle  Temple.  In  Kings  fit-ncliV"  k  lie 
exammed  the  names  winch,  like  creeping  plants,  cover  the  Va  Is  "f 
the  grimy  entrances  with  a  deciduous  growth.  At  length  he  seleckd 
a  staircase  and  eisurely  mounted.  Grayson  cautiously  foHowed 
and  saw  him  after  knockin«  for  some  time,  admitted  into  the 

naro7'°A°.."«'°"^T'."'^  H'«  ^'°«'  «^  Which  was  iuscSle 
name  01     31r.  George  Barton. 

Before  he  retiirued  and  gave  his  report,  the  partners  were  busilv 
engatred  m  their  ordinary  aJfairs.  On  hearing  the  news  llietwj 
awyers  exchanged  a  glance  of  consternation,  of  which  Mr.  Graysou 
took  a  quiet  mental  note.  <-"  jjh.  wuysou 


CHAPTER  Vir. 

A  HOKIIIULE   SUSPICION. 

Nothing  could  have  been  more  unwelcome  to  George  Barton  the 
younger  than  the  apparition  of  the  Earl  of  Seiby  at  the  door  of  Ws 
chambers  He  was  so  taken  aback  by  it  that,  alllfough  heUd  sworn 
to  himself  that  he  wou  .1  control  his  feelings,  would  play  a  profound 
game,  conceal  his  suspicions  and  pursue  the  end  he  had  in  view^n 
such  a  manner  as  not  to  give  .my  inkling  of  his  object,  he  was  una" 
Lie  for  the  moment  to  hide  Ids  surprise  5ud  trouble      '  ^  ^  "^  ""'' 

The  earl  read  his  face  correctly,  but  took  no  outward  notice     II« 
pu  out  his  hand  with  an  air  of  mingled  seriousness  and  aflabililv 
andjalked  into  the  antechamber  with  the  assurance  of  a  welcome 

ir^^n^s:::^^:^''  ^'^^^'^^  ^^'^'^  "-"^-  -  ^* «« 
''MJyi'a;i;vs^oSproCi^^-;:tSrror?.?  ^^''•'"'  ^"■^'^- 

The  earl  entered  the  room,  while  Barton  shut  the  outer  door  and 
the  latter,  following  Ijis  visitor,  said  suddenly,  in  a  voice  which  quiv- 
ered with  emotion,  while  he  pointed  to  an  empty  chair  drawn  u  at 
a  table  standing  near  the  window,  '  '  " 

father'r'""''  "  "*'  ^^^'*''  """"^  '°  ""*'  °'"'''''  ^^"^  ^  ^"^^  ^"^  ^y 
The  peer  who  had  been  about  to  lake  tlial  chair,  tor  the  reason 

M'^tT^l'i'*  ''""^'^  ^^"^  f°  «"  ""^'^  1^'«  back  to  the  light,  and  Zs 
to  watch  the  young  man's  face,  for  lie  had  come  to  have  a  serous 
and  critical  interview  with  him.  started,  turned  away,  and  sunk  into 
an  arm-chair  that  happened  to  be  near.  George  Bar  on 's  l"es  we  e 
axed  upon  him  with  a  curious  expression,  buf.^'though  a  sifiht  finish 
p.-.88ed  over  the  earl's  cheek,  his  face  showed  nothing  but  |Sn  and 
sympathy  and  his  eyes  steadily  retuined  the  younf  nan^  eaze 
.^18  one  of  the  penalties  of  being  an  accomplished  cynic  that  E 
gravest  and  most  sincere  moments  of  effusion  are  those  whicU  others 


:o 


A    AVEEK    OF    PASSIOK. 


I 


..     1    „»  ««,.ii.,nri  ir>  believe  in.    Bntton  assumed  tbal  the  earl 

anxieties  are  not  small    and  "fJ  "";^j,7tl,rowu  off  mv  bulauce. 
seemed  bard  and  msjmpaieic  iH-iimed  and  unwel- 

"■■Do  14a  Iblnk  you  could  1k«.  It  00.1;  »ld  ihe  ml.    "  You 

'°^?;drru';/ir,s;pc'rcon'S^t'oLv»a»yo,eui„, 

1.SI  ^00  aw  nJl  do  in«  lie  l.ouor  10  mate  ai,];  coo.muolc.lion  10 
X  Know,  uijr  .  which  vou  are  pliicea.  and  by  the 

ployed,  at  ineverju  position  of  delicacy  and  em- 

m  endeavorms  to  ^5^™^/^^^       ppjs^ng  whose  advice  you   have 
Sruen-to  wiros^eS^^^^^^^^^^  have  beeu  lending  an  ear 

"'"'ThW^anC'iiue,  Gecge  Barton."  said  the  carl    calmly 

^-i]SeESn^e!!!T£yKS^^-^eS 
•l^huve  rZ  y     nd  rS  meineap^  judging  and  acUn«  with  the 

^^"K^KS^S'^oS^^M  CS  ^U^,  Wit. 
a  suicaslic  curl  ot  tlie  lips. 


o 
il 
ti 
d 
n 
h 
ri 

y 

a 

.A 
h 

si 
t< 
h 
d 

a 
s; 
t( 
a: 
tl 
o 
1 
1 

tl 
1 

C( 

ri 


w 

.il 
tl 
£ 
ni 
w 
e\ 

III 
ci 

ni 
m 
ia 

n< 
■w 


led  tbal  the  earl 
lerfeclion. 
eorge,  "  be  said, 
you.  My  own 
lie  critical  siuce 
off  my  bulnuce. 
ing,  1  must  have 
of  it,  and  bence 
nied  nnd  unwel- 
understand  and, 
explanation— the 

which  be  leaned 
tlie  earl.    "  You 

ft 

rbursday  evening 
^ommunlcatioD  to 

For  reasons  with 
in  more  vexatious 
ppearnnce  at  this 
in  communication 
m  Ibis  morning,  1 
in  llieir  hands." 
e  nlniosi  imposed 
pliiced,  and  by  tlie 
en.    But,  my  lord, 
d  been  your  f  liih- 
century.    Was  not 
our  generous  con- 
es to  your  lordship 
without  clear  evi- 
neccssarily  biased 
lencing  your  lord- 
ship's niind— with 
y,  deserved  at  your 
3ge,  tor  he  was  eni- 
id  so  mysteriously, 
)f  delicacy  nnd  em- 
e  advice  you   have 
been  lending  an  ear 

1  the  carl,  calmly, 
liich  1  bad  resolved 
Bel— 1  hardly  knew 
these  events  placed 
—my  own  anxieties 
and  acting  with  the 
pect  of  me." 
Gleorge  Barton,  with 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION". 


71 


"  Do  not  imagine,"  said  the  earl,  "  that  you  have  been  forgotten, 
or  that  we  have  not  all  ot  us  toll  pained  by  the  strange  and  incred- 
ible theories  to  which  we  seemed  to  be  driven  in  order  to  account 
tor  your  father's  conduct.  Your  mime  has  been  often  on  my  chil- 
dren's lips.  1  am  sure  Lady  Blanclie  and  Charles,  your  early  play- 
mates, Ijoth  lympathize  with  you  sincerely.  Lord  Charles  would 
have  been  to  see  you,  had  1  not  felt  obligeil,  by  the  advice  1  hiid 
received,  to  forbid  it;  but  they  have  not  ceased  to  ask  alter  you,  tor 
you  know  the  regard  tliey  feel  for  you." 

IJnilDn's  eyelids  fell,  his  cheek  glowed,  his  heart  throbbed  with 
a  pleasurable  feeling.  Then  lit;  checked  himself.  Were  these  bist 
wi.nlM  the  outcome  ot  candor  or  of  diplomacy?  Was  this  a 
Mephistophelean  whisper,  or  a  Hash  ot  real  kindness?  Spite  of  the 
horrible  suspicions  George  Barton  was  nursing  against  the  earl,  these 
simple  words,  for  some  subtle  reason,  acted  like  a  soothiiiu'  balm 
to  liio  irritation  ot  the  young  man's  feelings.  For  a  moment  or  two 
he  yielded  to  the  swetl  consolation  they  afforded  him.  But  sud- 
denly he  glanced  doubtfully  at  the  peer,  became  pale  and  somber 
agaiii,  and  said  coldly,  thougli  with  a  courteous  and  respectful  air, 

"  1  thank  you  very  much,  my  lord,  for  taking  the  trouble  to  call 
and  express  yourself  so  kindly.  1  am  particularly  grateful  for  the 
sympathy  <>t  Lady  Blanche  and  Lord  Charles,  if  you  will  allow  me 
to  acknowledge  it  to  them  through  you.  Considering  the  suspicions 
as  to  the  reason  tor  my  father's  disappearance  which  you  owne<l  to 
this  morning,  I  coulii  hardly  have  expected  to  have  been  received 
otherwise  than  you  did  receive  me,  unjust  as  those  suspicions  were. 
1  can  understand  how  deeply  you  are  annoyed  by  his  absence,  for 
1  know  the  crisis  in  your  affairs  to  be  an  acute  one." 

"  True,"  replied  the  earl,  "  but  I  do  not  wish  you  to  suppose 
that  1  am  thinking  wholly  ot  my  own  troubles,  serious  as  they  are. 
1  was  quite  upset  this  morning  by  the  suEgestion  you  threw  out 
concerning  your  father's  fate.  It  seemed  so  incredible  and  bo  hor- 
rible." 

"  My  lord,  1  am  convinced  it  is  correct."  Barton  spoke  with  a 
dry,  defiant  emphasis. 

"  Wei!,  you  never  were  a  visionary;  you  genera. 'y  measure  your 
words  and  speak  with  reason.  1  can  only  say  to  you  what  1  have 
just  said  in  effect  to  Pollard  &  Pollard.  If  you  can  only  show  me 
that  there  is  reasonable  ground  for  your  conviction,  1  will  oiler 
£2000  reward  for  the  elucidation  ot  the  mystery— for  a  greater  or 
more  tearful  mystery  was  never  presenteti  to  human  beinL' — nnd 
whatever  may  be  the  consequences  to  me,  1  pledge  myself  to  do 
everything  1  can  to  assist  in  its  solution." 

George  Barton  looked  for  a  moment  irre9oi.:*.ely  at  the  earl,  as  it 
he  fiiin  would  have  believed  his  words  to  be  sincere.  He  said, 
calmly  and  sarcastically, 

"  My  lord,  a  reward  has  been  already  offered  in  your  lordship's 
name,  ifou  did  not  mention  to  me  this  morning  that  an  advertise- 
ment had  appeared  with  your  sanction,  which  was  a  cruel  and  in- 
famous reflectiou  <m  my  father." 

Ills  eye  and  voice  pointed  the  words.  The  earl  did  not  appear  to 
notice  the  young  man's  manner,  though  in  reality  he  was  deeply 
wounded  by  it.    He  was  there  to  conciliate  him  at  any  cost  to  bis 


72 


A    AVEEK    OF    PASSION. 


Is 


4  « 

Inexroiiencod.  and  nngry  yo'".'.'-...  g„ui    carried  away  by  nn  anger 
"  Those  circumstances,  sir     "^„'""'' „.  knowledi:e  llirouRli  your 
^hich  he  eouUl  not  control  ''  J-   ^^'^/riaSlKS'gra'lni^^ 

S  is  your  price?     Wlmt  can  1  gWe  yo^^J^^^LoSng  tbat, 
"  You  can  give  me  bade  my  \";''5' ^%"r  munlerecl  he  lias  been 
you  can  help  me  discover  his  ?J  "'^'^"-/^^i^Snswho  could 
iy  the  foulest  means-  and  1  t«»  y"'   !J»^.^'J,S  out  of 

.  fe  S  CJ^K^Sf  S^e^^^soiit^y  conMant 
of  the  Lcrets  ot  their  ahame  «n'U™«lU^^  ^^  ,^^  ^,^,^^ 

,o7w\VdTsTgh?Snd"rW""aTbis'Vordf  in  the  tee.h  ot  the 

"'^Ihe  peer  also  jumped  to  his  ^-'^  J^VdrclShir^BK^^^^^^ 
eyes  flashing,  his  »P«  ^I'V^XTup  lVn?Tlown  i^  b  a^  «nd  fell 

trerf;i"»rm£t.Tr  »,"<«.  -"" "»-  "■" 

jinguish.  „„„„r.rtofi  nt  iiieeifeotof  his  own  words. 

George  Barton  stood  f  lo"n(led  at  the  eiieri  „nd  a 

The  man,  before  whom  he  had  ever  »'OJ^f  '^'i'>(^%*^i,im.  struck 

sense  of  inferiority    was  ^»^"« ''"  *P™,' „  emoti^^  which  he  had 
down  by  his  accusation     Territte    at  tic  em^i^^^^^^ 

produced,  he  was  too  «g 'f  „«^/°  ""3pge     Was  it  guilt?     Was 
he  causes  ot  the  earl's  extraord  nary  collapse       v         h        ^^  .^ 

it  the  horror  ot  Innocence  at  «t°">X,e  Questions.  ^  sudden 
actins?  George  did  not  "«»^ '^''"f*"  ^J^n  rmoS-ali  the  feel- 
revufsion  ot  pitv  and  ^«S;,f\«ron.erspLch-W9  more  implacable 
Surl^'InSy  ZTCuAT^Io^X^^^  ^^een  to  allow  him 


wavlnc;  the  olive- 

i  speak  only  came 
w  with  PolUml  & 
)Out,  It,  but  1  ex- 
cest  te.ms." 
lie  a  mistake.  It 
B  to  suppose  that, 
me,  tliere  was  not 
Hard  &  Pollanl." 

nded  him  that  the 
t  inglorious  secret 
ready  hunted  and 
nds  of  this  young, 

away  by  an  anger 
ledge  through  your 
ble  and  gratuitous 
ler  you  Imve  tlone. 
lie  knowledge  you 
go,  George  IJarton, 
ur  silence?" 
ly— or,  failing  that, 
rdered  he  lias  been 
persons  who  could 
putting  him  out  of 
e  solitary  confiJaiit 

resture,  as  he  threw 
J  in  the  teeth  ot  the 

lie  with  passion,  his 
bed.  But  suddenly 
s  staggered,  and  fell 
his  breast. 
:s  mo  a  murderer! 
that  relief  he  must 
-bolt.  His  trembling 
SB  of  weeping  there, 
rit  with  shame  and 

t  of  his  own  words, 
■itb  reverence  and  a 

before  him,  struck 
lotion  which  he  had 
mnke  any  analysis  ot 

Was  it  guilt?  Was 
the  charge?  Was  it 
uestions.  A  sudden 
moment  all  thefeel- 
his  more  implacable 
Id  been  to  allow  him 


A    WEEK    OF    I'ASSION. 


78 


self  to  be  betrayed  out  of  the  self- possession  he  had  resolutely  sworn 
to  maintain  until  suspicions  had  been  CDnverted  into  certainties. 
Nevertheless,  he  stood  there  silent,  puzzled,  trout)led,  gazing  al  the 
earl,  and  not  knowing  what  to  say. 

As  for  the  earl— what  were  the  emotions  that  had  given  so  sudden 
asliock  to  the  moral  andphj'sicalequihbtlum  of  this  imu  of  fastidi- 
ous and  importurbat)lQ  cynicism,  which  had  unsealed  louutaius  of 
feeling,  the  very  existence  ot  which  he  had  himselt  forgotten,  so 
long  had  they  been  dried  up?  If  ho  were  innocent,  would  not 
honest  wrath  and  indignation  have  been  the  ruling  emotions  ot  tlm 
moment?  Were  he  guilty,  would  that  involuntary  cry  ot  anguish 
and  surprise  have  escaped  liis  lips?  But  this  strange  admixture  ot 
weakness  and  revolt,  ot  wounded  pride  and  passionate  sorrow,  was 
quite  incomprehensible. 

There  were  a  thousand  motives  pressing  George  Barton  to  interpret 
the  earl's  emotion  frankly  and  generously — early  associations,  grate- 
ful remembrances  of  kindnesses  that  went  back  to  the  first  notes 
registered  by  childish  sense  on  the  tablets  of  memory,  aQectiou  for 
the  earl's  dead  wife  and  his  living  family,  his  own  personal  interest. 

As  we  have  seen,  bis  father  had  always  expccled  him  to  succeed 
to  the  position  beheld  in  the  earl's  establishment,  that  of  the  supreme 
agent  or  man  of  afiairs  ot  a  colossal  estate,  but  the  young  man's 
own  ambitions  tiew  at  higher  game.  lie  would  have  sacritlced 
those  xmbltious  to  his  father's  wishes,  which  for  him  had  almost 
the  sacredness  of  a  divine  prescription— for,  in  his  family,  the  pure 
and  noble  character  and  lite  of  the  elder  Barton  had  evoked  (he  rev- 
erence and  devotion  of  a  cult,  wliile  his  solid  intelligence,  tine 
human  sympathy,  gentleness  and  warmth  ot  heart,  had  drawn  his 
wife  and  children  to  him  in  bonds  of  the  closest  attection.  There- 
fore the  son  never  contravened  his  father's  decision,  and  Lord  Selby 
had  almost  allowed  it  to  be  taken  for  granted  that  he  would  trans- 
mit to  the  sou,  should  he  prove  himself  worthy  of  it,  the  trust  and 
regard  he  had  in  and  for  the  father.  Then  there  was  anotlier,  a 
deep  and  secret  feeling,  at  which  we  have  hinted,  which  made  it 
almost  impossible  for  George  Barton  the  y3unger,  in  this  awful 
crisis  of  his  life,  to  arm  himself  with  the  firmness  and  implacability 
of  a  Spartan  revenge. 

One  of  the  brightest  recollections  of  his  younger  days  was  the 
image  of  a  lovely  little  fairy,  always  dressed  in  gay,  coquettish  cos- 
tumes, over  vivacious,  sparkling,  mischievous,  and  yet  full  ot  in- 
fantile dignity,  chattering  French  in  delicious  accents  with  a  gracious 
bonne,  and  filling  the  vaulted  halls  of  the  grand  castle  of  Selby  with 
the  echoes  of  an  exquisite  folly  and  gayety ;  and  later  on,  as  she 
developed  from  girlhood  to  womanhood,  discovering  charms  more 
luminous  and  enchanting  from  day  today,  like  the  waxing  of  the 
moon  in  the  month  of  harvest.  Ay !  he  had  watched  her,  watched 
her  long  Defore  he  began  to  know  or  to  suspect  the  secret  ot  that 
spell  which  love  and  fate  were  so  irresistibly  weaving  around  him, 
and  which  was  to  carry  in  its  silken  web  the  issues  of  his  life.  The 
footins:  on  which  Mr.  Barton's  children  were  admitted  to  the  free- 
dom of  Selby  Castle  was  sufficiently  familiar,  but  of  course  could 
not  aeceive  or  mislead  them  as  to  the  exact  nature  ot  their  relations 
to  their  pations.    The  intimacy  which  grew  up  especially  between 


A    AVEEK 


OF     PASSION. 


1  I  /«r.i  flinrlps  Liwton,  nml  incidentally 
voung  Geori^c  Barton  mid  1^°"  .^^^3. '4'\C  H^rcBarao.l,  l.y  tU.; 
^i,b lady  Hlanche  ^:'«  •^'tr^J^^'t.'Tany  „^^  U«  consciucnc-s  Ukoly 
earl  witli  Uml  sl.ituly  'l"  "f'^"",,  ,"'  wa.s  natural  lo  a  n.an  ^vlJO 
to  tlow  {ron.  such  an  »"l'"'"{J.„^'t„,'i)ie«  in  lau'lan.l  al  le  tairly  to 
knew  that  there  "^^ '»^ \f  ^^^^,„T  v  o  luul  the  con.ulenco  that 
pretemUo  an  cHiuality  ^  ;\lllWl'''^\  ,.„,npromi«o  their  a.islocrallc 

{lone  ot  his  <  !''^'\^-' :^':  !'U ml     he  c/       Uarton'8  ^ood  sense,  an. 
sui.remuey.  On  the  olhw  1  am!   uie  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^  ^  ^ 

thi  a.ln.iral.le  '1"'\''^  ,'^^*  7,  '  *„ree  U.at  the  tan.iliarity  ol  the  rela- 
,nauners.  was  '\  «"'  '^  ,•; 'i^fX"  .^^^^^^^^^  wouUl  always  be  em^ 

tions  between  the  castle  an  l  tLnia  c.)nvcnlional   lines 

iieteil  on  both  siilcs  with  a  il  le  J,^,»'  ,  V, '  tliem  lUit  tor  Goori^e 
l^'l^^ch  birth  and  ^1^^^^.:^^^^^^^^'^^  surrounding  a 
Ballon,  living  within  te  /"'^^  ^'\;','^,i„  reserve 

Ladv  Blanche  was  a  glil  't  I'";,,  ,"  "  ,orirlnir  rich  with  promise 

time  when  the  blossoms  of » '^^ """!?, ^'^,ni'ii.  youui;  girl  had 
Attractive  truittlieCoun  ess  of  bcl^^^^^  J.j;;^)^^^^  ^^^       ,, 

spent  much  «  ,/l'«  .^'^'.f 'If  Jas  aiW  at  Selby  when  her  talhei 
Countess  ot  Tilbury  ;l'UtBlit  was  .^^^^^  Opportunities  ol  intercourse 
came  down,  and  there  ^^^^"^  "^™"iy  George  Barton,  whose 

between  the  clever,  capHvaUng  l^tauty  auu  ^     fe       ^.^^^  iieveiop- 

heart  was  capable  ot  a  sr^^'^n^^S^olT  hm^y  Blanche,  wiili 
Ing  Into  one  of  exceptional  flnenMaiowe         j^^        (Uorgo'^ 

her  quick  appreciations.  «°"\'^,/° V.^^i "  gravity,  the  distinction 
Hurwriority  to  other  young  men,  ids  e^""'^^,  ",■„'•  i.im   with  the 

3o?igi'nality  oi  >''^,rlo'X  e.^tl«  ^™^  ^'""  and  Oxford  by 
chums  who  were  brought  to  •'*"  <;";V"  1,^  or  hunllng,  or  on  the 
Lord  Layton  or  1-°''^  9•^''''*'«f^!?' f''  °S^^  much  healthy 

pretense  of  reading  P»F''f.?;.;f  ^i^^^'i'^  ui.  k ing.  and  smoking,  she 
exercise  and  much  ""l'«'f  \'  =  '^  "ant  gcs.  Among  these  young 
^..W  forced  to  take  ""^Xlder  and  more  distinguished  guests  who 

arlslocrais,  as  »'n°"fi/.^^?iS  castle  with  brilliant  life,  George  Bar- 
in  the  autumn  filled  the  great  ^as^e  w  i  ^        p.edicled 

ton  was  alwiajrs  a  «>f  ^K^l  at  t^ba^  am  old  statesmen  congrat- 

SaiTthVriralolrro^  -um  shme  in  political  life,  it  he 

exactly  how  to  hit  the  >««»^.''f,\7 a^u. reject  wli  lorcing  regard 
mesumptlon.  He  ^''^^^.^^^J'^^'emUicnt,  he  l^new  liow  to  avoid 
^liough  his  mental  Bupeiiorily  y^"f/„ ',  ,"  .heir  sports  he  siiowed 
imping  it  on  his  youn.  associate  ^^J  ^^^^  gave  their  minds  to 
Luual  enthusiasm  and  address  with  '^°f,^  ,;,">;  g  uence,  so  far 
SinTelse  except  the  'i^velopment  o^^^^^^^  Ef^as  little  besides 

a8  mannerB  and  ?PPe?^^f°^"7f;^„^°°ue^S  company  which 

bis  name  to  distinguish  him  trom  lue  ai  ^^       tliem  all 

surrounded  him,  whereas  1'^  sood  out  clearly    ^^^^^^^     ^^^ 

^.^^^SX^rZ^t  Swrthird  in  the  lis,  oi  wrangiets. 


A    WEKK    OI'     I'ASSIOK. 


r5 


nml  incMcnlally 
IsrcBftnlod,  l>.V  tUe 
iiseiiiicnci-H  'Ikuly 
il  10  It  111  nil  who 
likiiil  iiMc  tiiirly  to 
If;  coiiiiilfiico  tliul 
)  their  tii  istocralic 
8  nooil  scMise.  ami 
t  rare  eiillure  ani 
llarity  ol  thu  rda- 
ilil  always  be  teni- 
jonvcnlional   lines 
1.  IJul  tor  Goori;u 
lion  surrouutliug  a 
ikiu'ssand  reserve, 
i  soul.     The  sweet 
nselve*  arounil  bis 
I  oil. 

cl,  ami  .jiisl  at  the 
'  rich  with  promise 
riu!  youug  ii\r\  biul 
rt-ilb  her  aunt,  the 
by  when  her  tathei 
lit'ics  ol  intercourse 
jrgu  llatton,  whose 
miml  was  devolop- 
Lady  Blanche,  with 
struck   l)y  George's 
vily,  the  distinction 
.linR  him    with  the 
ilou  and  O.xtord  by 
r  bunting,  or  on  the 
into  much  healthy 
',  and  smoking,  she 
\mong  these  youug 
iguisbed  i^ucsls  who 
ant  life,  George  Bar- 
Old  judi^cs  pi  cdicled 
Id  statesmen  congrat- 
in  political  life,  it  be 

bitlous  mother,  Knew 
adulation  anl  lude 
while  forcing  regard, 
le  knew  bow  to  avoid 
leir  sports  be  showed 
lo  gave  their  minds  to 
lodies.  Hence,  so  far 
here  was  Utile  besides 
;ratic  company  whlcb 
■  from  among  them  all 
8  culture.  Bis  father 
1  the  list  ot  wrangleis, 


iind  first  !n  the  classical  tripon.  No  wouilcr  tlrot  Mr.  l.o  Biilou 
fXclHimed  agidnst  the  idea  of  making  sucli  n  -^iili  the  nguii  .d  u 
peer. 

But  the  elder  Burton  bed  a  horror  ot  ambition.  Ho  had  seen  11 
condutl  to  80  many  tiblpwrecks.  Wiudever  his  ultimate  intention!* 
were,  he  did  not  encourage  his  won  lo  look  lieyond  llio  modetalo 
but  honorable  station  in  which  he  had  found  for  himself  iin  uniil- 
loyed  comfoit  and  hiippincHt..  So  the  old  Kenllemaii  wanleil  ta 
iirilele  bis  son  to  a  solicitor.  George's  ambilion  was  pressing  liiiu 
to  aim  at  sometblnt;  Id^lier,  but  he  tesolveil  that  he  would  carry  out 
tile  pattinal  wislies  at  any  sacrilice.  Probably  it  was  witii  a  some- 
whiit  unconscious  hyp<HTisy  thai  ho  argued  willi  his  father  Ihat  Ihe 
education  of  a  barrister  would  lit  him  as  well  lor  the  coveted  post  as 
that  of  a  solicitor.  The  elder  Barton  was  not  without  a  touch  of 
humor.     Jle  said, 

'•  For  every  guinea  earned  by  a  barrister  a  solicitor  gels  at  least 
ten  six  and  eigbt-penccs.  You  arc  a  wrangler  and  you  ci.n  calculate 
wbeUier  ten  times  six  and-lwo-lliirds  is  greater  Ihau  twentyouo. 
However,  tor  a  position  such  a»  mine,  where  there  are  no  bills  ot 
cost  to  render,  and  all  that  is  required  is  a  good  liead  foi  business 
and  a  sterling  integiity.  1  don't  think  it  mailers  which  profesi'ioa 
you  iHilong  to.  And  then  it,  atler  all,  you  should  turn  out  to  lie  a 
genius,  which  no  Barton  that  1  ever  beard  of  ever  did  yet,  you  may 
be  able  to  look  higlier.     You  sliall  read  with  Le  Breton." 

There  may  have  been,  after  all,  a  profounder  sagacity  and  a  more 
real  ambition  in  Mr.  Barton's  mind  than  he  allowed  to  appear  in 
desiring  to  place  his  son  in  Ihe  position  ot  confidential  adviser  and 
munager  for  the  earl.  He  may  have  thought  that  this  was  the  surest 
\%ay  to  bring  to  tlie  notice  of  one  of  the  nstutest  men  in  England,  and 
of  keeping  under  that  notice,  in  exceptionally  tavoralde  circum- 
stances, tlic  great  abilities  ot  his  son.  The  earl  was  a  keen  politi- 
cian. Youns;  Barton's  views,  like  bis  father's,  leaned  to  Conserva- 
tism, and  llie  agent  of  the  Enrl  of  Selby  had  many  opportunities,  If 
he  chose  to  use  them,  of  playing  even  a  brilliant  part  in  county 
politics.  Old  Mr.  Barton,  not  being  a  brilliant  man,  had  to  be  con. 
tent  to  act  as  a  shrewd  and  active  organizer,  but  George  might,  with 
his  powers,  take  a  more  prominent  and  showy  piirt.  Mr.  Barton, 
however,  was  one  of  those  exlraotdiuary  men  who  can  think  tor 
years  over  a  subject  and  never  allow  a  sign  to  pass  his  lips. 

When  he  had  placed  bim  in  Le  Breton's  cliambers,  through 
which,  for  thirty  years,  bad  been  passing  a  vast  number  of  those 
chickens  of  the  bat  who  afterward  became  champion  birds  and 
cocks  of  the  legal  walk,  Le  Breton,  after  a  tew  mouths,  told  bis 
friend, 

"  Barton,  your  son  is  not  cut  out  lor  an  agent.  He  is  no  mere 
hard-working  lawyei.  U  you  meant  hiin  onl^  for  that,  you  had  no 
business  to  make  him  a  wrangler.  He  combines  a  poetic  tempera- 
mtnt  with  great  practical  intelligence.  He  is  a  man  of  culture  and 
a  man  of  the  world,  as  well  as  a  keen  reasoner  and  a  thorough  man 
of  business.  1  don't  tell  him  so,  mind.  God  forbid  that  1  should 
do  anything  lo  thwart  your  wishes  and  prevent  him  from  settling 
down  at  Manor  Calham  with  twelve  or  tlfteen  hundred  ayear-l 


r 


7fi 


A    w  i;r.K   tn'   PASSION. 


dure  »nv''-nn,l  miUixlicl  ^hmWng,  nl.l.'l.    1  know  ,vnn   imI/.u  f.o 
mud.'  ■  r.ut  rnillv  I..-  W  nt  tor  l»4U.r  tliii-i's  tlian  tlml. 

•■  W.-  Mliiill  «•<■.'  Mii.l  Mr.  Ilurlcn.  hIiuIIIiii;  1ii«  Hih. 

Hul  hi- iu'v<r  lm,l  tlw  cl.aiw..  ot  rw.lvlnj:  iluM,iicstloM   .mil  tlm 
U     ;;.  worn  of  Ion,  lH.,H...l  ,...o,.lr.     Tl.  V  louk  ho  v.-.  v  f„r  «l,e.ul 
tl.ut  thcv  H.n.ctimrH  ili..  Lctor."  Ilu-  jounu'V  !•<  Inill  I  ni.s hnl. 

TlUN  u  lonir  .liL'r.HMoi,.  I  n.uHt  mlinit,  Im  or.Irr  to  i-nii Mo  he 
rr.  .Ic.  to  <Mn«r.'(-Mvlo  tin.  t...-llnKs  will,  wl.icl.  yoimK  (.coil'.;  Ilnrton 
«t',M)  .'../inu'.  will,  troul.l«il  .•>•«■».  lit  llH-  !"■'■'■.  •">  whom  hm  s,,m'l| 

v.'con.o  in  H0.nrwi.m>.  un.l  ji.Rl  Iktc  tliny  Imvc  tl.c-  lulvanli.uc  of 

11  lU    1.  tl.r  time  ....reMMurv  to  iillow  Ilu-  furl  to  mv.v.T    mn.  1.  s 

"So        (HmluiUlv  u  c.nVlrllo..  l.firu..  to  IK-n-.trat..  into  nuvtonj 

rniix   tlml  l.lH  .ruotlon  wiis  Bincor.-.   lii.l.'-M.  lus  heart  l."an.nl  all  that 

wa        nut,  Ihe  imHt  low  .lavs  ami  iik-hts  with  their  horr  l.I..  exroti- 

Tc^.  th..ir  powerful  wresilluKH  of  .nhxl  an.l  heart.  "''>•'■":;""' 

BorroW   their  epiaoiks  of    viiulictive  ,m8sion    hml  not.  lelK.e.rno 

l?arton  us  he  ^>as-Kenero.i«.  contl.lini.',  lu.refi.l.  youn«.     He  im.l 

nature,   more  In  tl...so  .Icsolato  hours  than  he  hn.f  In  K»»  "'  ''» 

rev  o  ,9  life.     Kor  in  the  hot-l.e.ls  of  norrow  un.l  passion  the  soul 

HkeHn     .lulek  an.l  morl.i.l  -rowth.     ILs  faith  in  men  was  forever 

shaken   1  Is  1  eliet  in  tlie  victor  of   truth  and  virtue  was  ru.lely  un- 

dcrmine(l   nn.t  the  natural  K<'ntleneBs  of  his  nature  had  given  way  to 

n  llerce  an.l  tloirL'ed  ilflermiinition  of  vengeance.  ,,    i„. 

Tline  rl  H!wke  tlrst      lie  had  somewhat  recovered  liimself,  hut 

is  hreas    Ids  1.  i mis  resting'  helplessly  on  the  arms  of  the  chair, 
•i  (imrvo  it!  •  he  sai.l,  in  a  hollow  voice:  "  I  deserve  the  out- 
race  and  gliame  of  this  foul  suspicion,  for  liavin«  once  nllowed  my- 
seft  to  be  the"  Bccompli.'e  of  a  . lisho.ioiul.le  act.     But  it  is  hard  to 
bear.     1  thought  1  sh.iuUl  have  fallen  d.-ad.  .  ,„  i.i. 

lie  mit  his  hand  to  his  henit.  and  then,  as  if  reassured  as  to  Wb 
vitality  and  strength,  he  straiirhtcned  l.ims.^lt  up.  and  with  a  com- 
posed face  looke<»  <(teudily  at  George  Barton.  ,  Q  ,K„  .l,n 
^'•Barton."  he  said,  ''vou  have  struck  the  Earl  of  Selby  the 
hrdcst  and  foulest  blow  that  was  ever  struck  at  a  Layton,  ano  m 
the  time  they  bnve  ha.l  to  ,.lve  and  take  Imr.i  blows  enough.  For 
such  an  i^.  utation  as  you  liave  now  so  unjustly  thrown  «t  me  my 
a  c  Viors  w-ouUt  have  br..ken  you  on  the  wheel,  or  starved  you  o 
death  in  n  dungeon.  My  tathJr  would  have  run  you  through  with 
n  sTor,"  I  nee.l  no  such  weapons.  \ou  are  young-you  will  nl- 
wavs  regret  these  wor.ls,  thrown  in  my  teeth  In  a  moment  ot  vm- 
dlctlve  S  iou.  The  recollection  of  them  wtll  pun.sh  you  mor.3 
than  anylluug  1  could  say  or  do-for  the  suspicion  which  prompted 
hem  Is  t  isehin.t  has  no'foundiUion  whatever  except  in  the  lane  es 
ot  your  disordered  brain.  But,  yon  will  say,  being  young  an.  in- 
exnerienced,  '  Why.  then,  this  emotionV  I  wil  tell  you,  and  let 
my  words  sink  deep  into  your  mind.  When  an  I'O""!"''!^  •"«" ''"/ 
once  taken  a  false  step,  has  once  lost  the  golden  aureo  e  of  that  ner- 
sonal  dicnity  and  sense  of  integrity  which  not  on  y  ilium  nes  ^ith- 
ou"  but  manateslrom  an  illumination  within,  his  moral  s  reng.h 
ha;  departed,  as  Samson's  went  from  him  when  he  broke  Wsvow^ 
A  few  months  ago  such  an  imputation  as  you  just  now  cast  in  my 


ter 
tre 
in. 

Ill 
thi 
in. 
an 
xhi 
sill 
thi 
evi 
( 
at 
o\\ 

<:01 
tw 
nl> 
ser 
m. 
th. 
ha 


wi 

lat 

wl 
bh 
ex 
wr 
fat 
ph 

y 

of 

yo 

en 
n.) 
of 
toi 
he 
ha 

80( 

Uu 
pr 
ret 
no 
It 

OCI 

an 
up 


you   pri/.e  «0 


Mioii,  anil  tlint 

MMV  far  iiln'iul 

islu'il. 

r  to  I'liiililo  llie 

OcoiL't!  llurlon 

1(1111    lii»  NiX'Ccll 

liuintiiins  must 
i(!  lulvaniiiuc  of 
cover  from  Ills 
(■  Into  navton'H 

Icaninl  all  that 
liorrllilc  oxpcti- 

ilicir  hours  of 
lot  It'll  Oi'orno 
Dim;;.  He  hail 
In  ypiirs  ol  his 
)a»8lon  the  soul 
lien  WHS  torcver 
WHS  rudely  uu- 
id  given  WHy  to 

Bd  himself,  hut 
n  Bllll  lay  upon 
if  the  chair, 
leservu  the  out- 
ice  allowed  my- 
iut  it  is  hard  to 

ssurcd  ns  to  hia 
nd  with  a  com- 

rl  of  Selby  the 
Lay  ton,  and  in 
?s  enough.  For 
rown  at  me  my 
r  starved  you  to 
ou  throu!,'h  with 
ng — you  will  al- 
momcnt  ot  vin- 
unish  you  more 
which  prompted 
pt  in  the  lancies 
g  young  and  in- 
lell  you,  and  let 
inorable  man'hns 
reole  of  that  ner- 
y  illumines  with- 
5  moral  strengili 
;  broke  his  vow. 
now  cast  in  my 


A     WKEK    OF    I'.\S,sri)\.  ,, 

teeth  would  linrdly  have  excited  my  Indi^'natinn.  1  should  liave 
treated  it  with  pliy  mil  conlciiipt ;  iind  yet  JiihI  now  you  have  mrix 
mi',  almolutely  innocent  of  Hiivihin^'  most  lenuilely  iuNlilyliiu  your 
filKliliul  siispli'lons,  (tiihIh il  ill  a  iiiomeiit  aliiuxt  totlieearlli,  by 
this  iiiconsidiTiitu  unit  horrible  accii»alioii.  Why'.'  Ileciuise  at  tliiit 
moment  then-  were  Hiidili'iily  revealed  to  my  iiiiiid  lliu  full  e.Ment 
anil  bi'iiriu^r  anil  eoiiHeiiueiiceK  ot  an  act  ot  wcakneNS  commllted — or 
shall  I  say  perniitled?— In  a  time  of  on'rwlielpiiii^'  an.xiety.  Vou 
say  your  father  Iihh  coiillded  all  my  secrets  lo  you — tlien  you  know 
till'  iiiels.  It  lii'orge  JhKton  told  tliii  story,  he  would  imphasi/e,  or 
ivin  exaggerate,  the  circiimstaiices  wiiieh  were  extenuating.  ' 

(ieorge  llarton  the  younger  invoiiinlHiily  btrelclird  out  his  hands 
at  tlies'j  words,  as  it  he  would  have  taken  the  earl's  l)etvveeii  hl.s 
own,  but  the  earl  repulsed  him  wilh  a  gesture  ot  dignity. 

"  1  don't  wish  to  extenuate  them,  l''rom  this  hour  they  have  lie- 
<!onie  10  mo  more  shocking  hiiiI  less  excusable  than  ever.  1  allowed 
two  vul/ar  rascals  to  entrap  ine  into  u  position  which  was  dishonur- 
nble,  winch  would  not  bear  the  crilieism  of  honest  men,  oretand  the 
searching  investigation  of  the  law.  It  seems  they  liavc  rendered 
nie  liable  to  one  ot  tlie  most  awtiil  suspicions  that  could  rest  upon 
the  head  ot  a  human  being.  Ah!  the  aureole  hus  gone— the  aureole 
lias  Kone  forever." 

Ills  head  drooped  again. 

"My  lord,"  Interrupted  George  narton,  in  a  thrilling  voice, 
"forgive  me!  let  me  speidt!  I^ot  so!  The  aureole  comes  back 
with  repentance  and  restitution.  1  know  now,  and  I  see— alas!  too 
late  to  have  prevented  mo  from  conceiving  an  outrageous  injustice 
— that  your  protessiona  ot  a  resolution  to  vindicate  your  honor  at 
whatever  cost  were  sincere  and  eornest,  Do  not  let  my  deplorable 
blunder— my  detestable  suspicion— tlirow  a  shadow  where  nnna 
exists.  1  have  wronged  you,  my  lord— God  forgive  me!— and  in 
wronging  you,  1  see  1  see— 1  have  wronged  the  memory  ot  my 
father,  wlio,  it  ho  were  hero  now,  would  be  the  first  and  most  ini- 
placable  judge  of  tlie  folly  and  evil  1  liavo  committed.  My  lord, 
you  are  right;  no  sword  is  needed  for  my  puuisliment- the  anguish 
of  tills  moment  can  never  lie  eilaced  from  my  memory.  How  can 
you  pcssibly  forgive  me,  or  bear  the  .sight  of  me  again?" 

"  Stay,"  said  the  earl,  gently,  and  evidently  deeply  moved  by  tlie 
cruel  anguish  that  was  painted  on  the  young  man'.'i  face.  "  J  did 
not  mean  to  increase  the  pain  which  I  knew  would  be  felt  by  a  man 
of  your  sense  and  spirit  who  had  fallen  into  such  an  error.  1  have 
forgiven  you,  George  Barton,  lielievn  me,  from  llio  bottom  ot  my 
heart.  I  do  not  forget  that  1  myself  had  put  the  weapon  in  your 
hand  It  was  my  criminal  weakness  in  tlio  past  which  excited  and 
sacmcd  to  justify  your  suspicions,  and  supplied  the  barb  to  j'our 
Uart.  1  have  hardly  any  right  to  complain.  Moreover,  1  gave  the 
provocation  by  the  terms  in  which  1  referred  to  your  father.  You 
retorted  wilh  too  terrible  an  eflect— thank  God  you  were  wrong !  But 
now  let  us  understand  each  other,  for  that  is  what  I  have  come  tor. 
1  also  have  had  my  suspicions  awakened  by  something  wldch  has 
occurred  since  1  saw  you  in  the  morning.  1  have  just  liad  a  sudden 
and  vivid  illumination.  Now  thatyou  have  thrown  this  lurid  flash 
upon  the  circumslancea,  1  seem  to  see  the  outlines  ot  a  dreadful 


r^ 


'M 


IS 


A    WEEK    OF    PAS'    ON. 


r  ■ 


rosslbility.  Yes;  you  may  be  only  half  wrouR.  Jt  moy  be  true 
t)iat  George  Burton  has  been  a  victim  ot  tbe  fault  which  I  had  com- 
mitted. So  iar,  some  responsibility  may  rest  upon  me,  an  I'ncon- 
Bcious  cauEe  ot  a  great  crime.  Otheiwise  1  am,  in  act  anci  inten- 
tion, us  innocent  as  my  (laughter  lilancbe  or  an  unborn  babe.  And 
I  give  you  my  word  tliat  no  considerations,  family  .u  personal, 
shall  deter  me  trom  aiding  you  to  unearlh  the  real  authors  ot  this 
infernal  plot,  if  it  be  true  that  George  Barton  has  been  made  away 
with  by  foul  means.     Now  1  give  you  my  hand  upon  it." 

George  took  the  band  whicl»  was  extended  to  him,  and  bent  over 
Jt  trembling  willi  a  variety  of  emotions.  The  cynic  and  man  ot  the 
world  had  spuken  with  earnestness  and  feeling.  He  had  uncovered 
H  side  of  his  character  which  George  had  never  suspected  *\,c  ex- 
istence of,  and  which  perhaps  he  had  never  before  exhil)itpd  to  any 
human  being.  It  is  a  peculiarity  of  that  powerful,  incomparable 
Anglo-Norman  race,  which,  however  ]Mr.  John  Bright  and  similar 
bigots  may  affect  to  despise  it,  has  molded  the  English  character 
in  some  of  its  noblest  lines  of  pride  aad  dignity  and  chivalry,  that 
half  its  qualities  will  lie  unsuspected  and  unrevealed  from  the  cradle 
to  tbe  grave,  unless  some  extraordinary  event,  such  as  happened  to 
the  eail,  should  involuntarily  call  them  forth.  This  strange  and 
proud  reserve  is  unknown  to  any  other  race. 

Not  only  were  George  Barton's  suspicions  removed,  but  he  felt 
ashamed  and  mortified  at  ever  having  entertained  them,  for  the  earl's 
emotion,  his  snBering,  his  language  and  manner,  combined  to  prove 
beyond  a  doubt  that  he  had  spoken  with  perfect  sincerity.  It  was 
impossible  for  the  young  man  to  find  words  to  express  all  that  was 
in  his  heart,  relieved  suddenly  of  n  horrible  burden.  Ue  stood 
troubled  and  confounded. 

The  earl  had  recovered  his  ascendency.  He  said, 
•  "  It  will  be  long  before  either  of  us  can  forget  the  pain  of  this 
Incident.  If  you  feel  now  that  you  can  treat  me  as  1  am  prepared 
to  treat  you,  with  perfect  confidence,  our  duty  is  to  confer  together 
8s  to  the  steps  we  ought  to  take.  There  is  before  each  ot  us  a  pain- 
ful task — we  must  help  each  other.  With  the  information  you 
possess,  and  acting  as  my  friend,  you  may  be  of  infinite  service  to 
n\e  in  the  critical  position  in  which  i  am  placed ;  for,  if  you  have 
suspicions  that  (here  has  been  foul  play  on  the  part  of  certain  per- 
sons, as  regards  your  father,  1  am,  unhappily,  almost  at  their  mercy; 
and  your  knowledge  of  the  facts,  aided  by  your  intelligence  and 
perspicacity,  may  enable  me  to  neutralize  the  tremendous  advantages 
which  they  have  acquired  over  me.  You  can  trust  me,  on  my  side, 
to  do  everything  in  my  power  to  clear  up  the  mystery  of  your 
father's  fate,  and  remove  every  stain  from  his  memory." 

"  My  lord,"  said  young  Barton,  "  1  am  entirely  in  your  hands. 
1  would  offer  you  not  merely  a  reparation,  but,  if  you  will  allow 
me— even  after  what  has  occurred— to  revert  to  my  relation  as  your 
iiodson,  1  humbly  tender  the  services  ot  affection.  1  believe  1  have 
Ronie  very  serious  information,  quite  unknown  to  you,  for  my  father 
had  not  seen  you  for  some  days,  during  which  matters  of  the  gravest 
chnracter  came  to  his  knowledge." 

"  In  my  business?" 

"  Yes,  my  lord— things  almost  incredible.    The  bearing  ot  these 


rouK.     It  may  be  true 
fault  which  I  halt  com- 
it  upon  me,  an  rncon- 
am,  in  act  and  iiiten- 
an  unborn  babe.     And 
s,  family  or  personal, 
lie  real  authors  ot  this 
m  has  been  made  away 
land  upon  it." 
1  to  him,  and  bent  over 
le  cynic  and  man  ot  the 
ng.     He  had  uncovered 
lever  suspected  «'ie  ex- 
before  exhiliitpd  to  any 
poweitul,  incomparable 
)hn  Bright  and  similar 
I  the  English  charncter 
gnity  and  chivalry,  that 
revealed  from  the  cradle 
it,  such  as  happened  to 
)rth.    This  strange  and 

is  removed,  but  he  telt 
lined  them,  for  the  earl's 
nner,  combined  to  prove 
ertect  sincerity.  It  was 
1  to  express  all  that  was 
ible  burden.    He  stood 

He  aaid, 

1  forget  the  pain  of  thi'i 
eat  me  as  1  am  prepared 
uty  is  to  confer  together 
jefore  each  ot  us  a  pain- 
th  the  information  you 

be  of  infinite  service  to 
placed;  for,  if  you  have 
the  part  ot  certain  per- 
ly,  almost  at  their  meicy ; 
by  your  intelligence  and 
e  tremendous  ail  vantages 
!an  trust  me,  on  my  side, 
up  the  mystery  of  your 
his  memory." 

entirely  in  your  hands, 
n,  but,  if  you  will  allow 
irt  to  my  relation  as  your 
tection.  1  believe  1  have 
jwn  to  you,  for  my  father 
ich  matters  of  the  gravest 


e.    The  bearing  ot  these 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


:o 


things  on  the  subjei-t  of  our  anxiety,  now  that  1  have  to  consider 
them  trom  a  fresh' point  of  view,  will  be  materially  altered.  If  you 
•will  give  me  time  to  collect  my  thoughts  after  this  trying  interview, 
1  shall  be  able  to  lay  these  new  facts  before  you,  and  express  au 
opinion  upon  the  eilect  they  ore  likely  to  have  on  your  position. 
As  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost,  may  1  call  in  Portman  Square  this 
evening?"  .     ,„     „   .    ,   , 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  earl,  "  though  1  have  received  Her  Majesty  s 
commands  to  a  Queen's  bnll  to-uigUt.  Business,  however,  of  this 
kind  almost  supersedes  loyally,  and  1  shall  take  the  same  liberty 
that  Htr  -Majesty  does,  and  stay  away,  1  shall  be  alone  at  nine 
o'clock,  and  remember,  George,  by-gones  are  by-gones,  and  we 
meet  then,  as  of  old,  good  friends." 


!!•;; 


CHAPTER  VI 11. 

AVIIICn  SUPPLIES  A  KEY  TO  MOllE  POSITIONS  THAN   ONE. 

At  nine  O'clock,  when  George  Barton  presented  himself  at  the 
mansion  in  Portman  Square,  he  was  informed  that  the  Earl  ot 
Belby  was  awaiting  him  iu  the  library.  Young  Barton  could  not 
look  again  without  emotion  upon  the  familiar  face  of  old  Beesley, 
the  potter,  and  the  well-known  features  of  the  interior,  with  their 
mixture  of  comfort  and  grandeur.  The  wide  hail,  after  running 
for  some  distance  as  a  broai,  hanasomecorriilor,  opened  into  a  large 
square,  which  rose  to  a  cu'  lola  in  the  roof  of  the  mansion,  and  by  the 
walls  of  which  a  grand  ittdrcase  conducted  to  the  drawing-room 
floor  and  upper  stories.  On  the  right  ot  the  entrance  hall  was  a 
morning-room.  He  knew  it  well.  It  was  the  favorite  retreat  of 
Lady  Blanche  Layton.  Her  p.ano  was  there,  and  her  easel,  her 
escritoire,  her  books  her  great  cage  of  birds.  The  room  had  been 
her  mother's  domestic  headquarters— it  was  haunted  with  mem- 
ories of  her.  There  was  not  a  comer  which  did  not  betray  the 
taste  of  ar  artibtic  and  thoughtful  woman,  the  touch  of  a 
delicate  feminine  hand.  The  great  dining-room  was  on  the  left. 
The  library,  where  the  earl  was  waiting,  was  at  the  back  of  the 
house  on  the  first  floor.  As  Barton  was  following  the  footman 
along  the  marble-paved  hall,  preoccupied  with  the  grave  subjects 
of  tlie  interview  he  was  about  tu  have  with  the  earl,  the  door  of  the 
morning-room  opened— a  great  mahogany  door  with  crystal  handles 
—and  in  the  light  which  flooded  from  within  the  large  oblong  space 
thus  cut  out,  as  it  were,  in  the  gloomy  wall  appeared  a  beautiful 
young  woman,  while  a  voice,  soft,  clear,  and  melodious,  said, 

"  Mr.  Barton!" 

Young  Barton  started  and  turned  round,  and  his  eyes  fell  on  a 
figure  in  such  strong  and  b.iiliaut  contrast  with  his  melancholy 
gloom  as  to  have  all  the etter  i, which  is  attributeil  in  Roman  hagiog- 
raphy  to  the  vision  ot  a  samt  or  an  angel.  This  one,  however, 
was  hot  arrayed  in  celestial  c  istuuie,  though  it  seemed  to  Barton's 
eye  to  be  shining  as  the  day.  On  the  contrary,  her  dress  exhibited 
all  the  diabolic  skill  of  Iha  wicked  Parisian  artist  in  clothes.  She 
wore  a  ball-dress  ot  while  satin  ^md  lace,  with  a  crimson  bodice. 


■'■'vs.a 


so 


A    ^VEEK    OF    PASSION. 


u"o  .".llooSg  .1 1,1m  wIlU  la,B.  I»U««.  eyee  whlcli  wM,  taam- 

tnnl- aatpntowaTtlher,  "Ididnotexpectloseeyou! 

Sho  held  out  her  ri^'  it  hand,  which  wa8  ungloved,  with  a  charm- 
in«  ^ire  o   mS^^^^^^^  and  dignity,  and  tor  just  an  iuslaut 

°i;'f  h  s  burnhiK  tingers  a  pvessuie  wl.ioh  conveyed  a  maguelic 
?u  rent  ot  sv.  P^dhy  •  Sl'^  appeared  more  lovely  than  ever,  now 
tha  he  was  clo  e  to  her.  and  could  examine  tlie  tresh  young  hvce  a 

ittle  uareraud  thinner  periiaps.  from  the  season's  excitement  and 
fih>,  es  tlian  it  lad  been  when  he  had  last  seen  her,  before    he  in- 

=rifl=i.  nndsiniis  and  intr  KU  ni;  social  ambitions-but  Ue  lliougui sue 
?S  all  he  mote  cl  arming  and  spiritual  for  that.  8he  h,.d  de- 
looked  all  the  mote  cuarj,  1  aspect  and  carriage 

:Se1".wUarofrred^^^^^^^^ 
tTa^isMcal.y  perfecj  alUio^^^^^^ 

Si  'id  chiseled  nostrils,  with  indeflnable  characteristics  of  force 
curled  _^ia  <;"f '?",„',,  «'med  and  ruddy,  within  which,  wheD 

SeS«;  pSrf  by  S  cl..n....  ...a  L»ly  Blanche  ».s  ..  qmclc 

'°^  f  S  teSSSe"'.  Ml,"  «l.e  ».ia,  .imply,  c..ltos  » 

5^^'q  v>,i»  1  wanted  to  see  vou  lUSt  a  moment,  sal  iia\e  ureoseu 
Sriy:    Sh  Mr  BanoD.  lam  so  sorry  tor  you!    You  don't  Know 

^  Wi'n  qukk.'halt-involuntary  movement  she  put  out  her  hand 

^e  t'^d^  kJe^^wTrhtwa^'o^^^  seized  the  lit.le  hand 

and  pre£!f  U  to  his  lips.    The  act  v.ould  have  been  daring  in  a 


I 

ii 

!) 

S 

c 

s 

f 

c 

I 
a 
e 

li 

t 

0 

t( 
y 
c 

b 

ii 
ii 
C 
n 

B 

ci 
tl 
a 

a 
U 
B 

hi 
ai 


8J 

di 

b( 

al 
tr 

se 
ki 


Sfes^- 


--F. 


A    WEEK    OF     I'ASSIOX. 


81 


e  finest  texmre, 
)ut  ot  the  tine, 
ai  its  petal,  loso 
ug  relief  by  tlie 
tinir  was  coillfeil 
-angelic  appuri- 
licli  were  beam- 

nted  tone,  as  lie 

1,  with  acliarm- 
jrjust  an  instant 
ijeit  11  uinguelic 

than  ever,  now 
sh  young  lace,  a 
1  excitement  and 
r,  before  the  in- 
icnl  worklliness, 
lit  he  thought  she 
at.  She  iriul  de- 
pect  and  carriago 
It  that  lier  beauty 
'7cse»ihk,  it  rt'ould 
what  they  would 
id,  with  delicate 
iolet  and  lustrous, 
ght  weariness  or 

violet,  as  it  the 
e.  lier  nose  wa» 
3,  and  exquisitely 
icteristics  of  force 
hin  wliich,  whea 
;eeth  shone  white 
i^ed— the  dimple 
proportions  ot  the 
it  intellectual  than 
epose,  was  simply 
ig  dress  before;  he 
hite  shoulders  and 

necU  and  bosom, 
iiadvertent  expres- 
is  unconscious  ot 
nche  was  as  quids 

I,  simply,  casting  a 

St  loLadyParting- 

sfr  1  have  dressed 

You  don't  Know 

e  put  out  her  hand 

zed  the  little  hand 
e  been  daring  in  a 


prince,  and  what  it  was  in  the  son  ot  Earl  Selby's  late  agent,  defiea 
an  estimate. 

She  snatched  away  her  hand  quickly;  a  flash  ot  feeling  passed 
across  her  face  which  it  was  impossible  to  define.  She  wi.s  con- 
scious, among  oth«-r  tacts,  that  at  tlie  toot  of  the  stairs  stood  six  feet 
ot  curiosity  and  garrulity,  majestically  pretending  to  be  engaged  in 
sttulying  the  fair  proporlious  ot  its  silk-enveloped  leg,  biit  keenly 
following  every  word  and  movement;  and  then  this  was  an  unheard 
ot  liberty.  But  Barton  stood  before  her  in  an  attitude  that  wiis  not 
undignified,  though  it  seemed  to  imply  surprise  at  his  own  audacity, 
and  supplication  for  pardon  could  be  read  in  his  dark,  expressive 
eyes.  The  llame  that  liad  shot  for  a  second  from  under  the  l.tng 
lashes  ot  the  lady  was,  however,  quickly  subdued. 

"  1  wanted  to  tell  you  that,  Mr.  Earton,'.'  she  said,  her  voice  and 
maiiDcr  altering  to  reserve,  as  she  arew  back  slightly,  though  he, 
on  his  part,  sharply  watcaiug,  had  detected  a  flush  which,  like  a 
touch  ot  rosy  down,  flitted  over  her  neck  and  face—"  1  was  alraid 
you  would  think  we  had  all  forgotten  you,  but  1  assure  you  both 
Charlie  and  1  have  telt  the  deepest  sympathy  with  you  in  this  terri- 
ble  trial." 

"  1  can  not  tell  you.  Lady  Blanche,"  responded  George  Barton, 
in  a  tremulous  voice,  "  how  grateful  to  me  your  words  are.  1  have, 
indeed,  been  -dreadfully  lonely  and  deserted.  Please  tell  Lord 
Charles  how  much  I  thank  him.  1—1  don't  know  how  to  express 
my  thanks  to  you,  Lady  Blanche." 

"Oh,  1  think  you  have  been  able  to  convey  them  to  me,  Mr. 
Barton,"  she  replied,  in  a  tone  which  was  slightly  severe  ami  mali- 
cious. "  But  I  must  not  keep  you.  The  earl  is  waiting  for  you  in 
the  library.  God  help  you  to  bear  tliis  dreadful  sorrow.  Good- 
night!" 

Ouce  more  he  held  that  lovely  little  hand  in  his  for  a  second;  ftnce 
more  he  felt  the  glance  of  her  beautiful  eyes  fixed  upon  him  with 
tender  interest  and  pity;  and  then  she  retired  into  the  room,  and 
Barton,  turning  toward  the  staircase,  experienced  the  sensation  of 
having  suddenly  walked  into  darkness.  He  took  two  or  three  steps, 
and  only  came  to  himself  when  the  tall  footman  said: 
"  This  way,  if  you  please,  Mr.  Barton." 

The  man  spoke  gently,  and  somehow  his  tone  was  penetrated  with 
sympathy,    iiovi  and  then  the  hearts  ot  these  rude  observers  ot  the 
dramas  ot  great  houses— and  what  strange  things  they  see  and  hear! 
— are  touched  by  the  little  idyllic  scenes  of  sentiment  which  puss  . 
beneath  their  eyes. 

"  Thank  you,  Colston."  said  George  Barton,  simply.  He  knew 
all  the  servants,  and  was  a  favorite  among  them.  "1  am  in  great 
trouble,  Colston,  and  sometimes  hardly  know  what  1  am  doing." 

Colston  made  Jhe  sage  internal  reflection  that  Master  George 
seemed  to  have  known  what  he  was  doing  well  enough  when  he 
kissed  my  young  lady's  hand,  lut  he  said, 
"  I  know,  Mr.  George,  and  we  all  feels  for  you  very  much." 
His  tone  was  low.  and  it  seemed  as  if  emotion  of  some  rare  order 
bad  incapacitated  him  from  proJucing  anythme  more  than  this  feeble 
reuDark,  for  he  hastened  the  long  stride  of  his  sturdy  leg  to  avoid 
Barton's  eye. 


.1 


83 


A     WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


Doliutof  -danger.  '^"^^^i^^f^^j^^toT'.^'Re  seemed  to  h«ve  some 
ho  said  tollie  countess  ^  as    Jauon.    i.e  ,^,^  ^^  define  the 

borrible  impression  on  ImjruUl^^^^^^^^^^       is  seeing  poor  Barton 

S^ri- 'IrSwS.""  havfb^en^oo  precipitate  in  telling 

firmed.  Yet  lUere  is  »  ^'»3'^„«°"'f^ /"^^Jer  th4  most  confident  de- 
wUich  lingers  subtle  '^";\^"«"«';'^£fee  A  moment  betore  Barton 
duciionstrom  circumsta.  tial  e% u  u  ce^^^  a  ^^^  ^^^^^^^^ 

would  have  maintained  t  e  ,'=,«l"''°Jy  ^^  .^"'iiad  affirmed  it  in  the 
who  had  met  his  death  '" /'  «  Xtmeut  of  the  Earl  ot  Tilbury 
morning-and  yet,  »°^^,  ^  f.j^^f.^'J  ^Tupon  the  son's  heart  like  a 

put  it  beyond  all  <,l\'«f 'f  "l/^^'^f^eaa-L"^^^^^  ''^  "'"'"^'^  ^'°"  '" 
fresh  blovv.  Yes,  his  fathtTjas  dead    n  w^^^^  .^^^^^^^  ^j.j^i, 

manner- was  the  subject  of  «l'e  sensational  '  ^   ^^p    j^^.g  i„ain 

i;il  London  ^'«V.'^l^''"^^':^dTu-e  a  biol^n  J-a^clT^^^^^        ^s  hands 
seemed  to  be  whirling  round  '  '^«  !*  '['^/^^'^^''^n  i.^i  forehea.l.     The 
irrew  cold,  the  sweat  ^^^''^  .1,^'J^^,^,^^^^^ 
;!£\^n^^  ;:iSra^-^^«able  grief  almost  weighed 

^^Tir:^^;:^;S^they3n.n.angi^^^ 

the  chords  ot  nature  ^vh.cll  v  bra  e  to  f^-f  ,^f"^,'^  incompetence  in 
Tlie  peer  was  too  hue  a  sP'"t  «f '«.  '«^'„,;\' ^^  in  his  voice,  as  he 
such  a  case ;  but  he  rose  nnd  sau  T^^J^^\!^^"3he  ai  m  ot  the  chair, 
*°°^r  stck  l^al'^SrgreilU'^^^^^  Stay,  let  me  go  and  get 
you  a  glass  ot  wine." 


s,  ullered  wUli  no 
particulars  of  his 
I  tlmt  evening  by 
man  otherwise  ot 
viiDls'  hall, 
case,  lie  felt  a  new 
energy  ihrotiiih  his 
lit  of  Lady  Blanche 
brightest  and  most 

sitting  gloomily  in 
hand.  He  did  not 
er  easy-chair  which 

n  sake,  but  1  have 
tiuients  were,  1  am 
le  to  himself;  he  is 
>  ot  the  first  things 
!emod  to  have  some 
unable  to  define  the 
seeing  poor  Barton 
recollect  a,  and  they 
unconscious  of  what 
precipitate  in  telling 

IS  gazing  at  the  earl 
here  was  no  doubt— 
nied  him  were  con- 
.,  some  vague  hope, 
e  most  confident  de- 
oment  before  Barton 
tathcr  was  the  man 
ad  affirmed  it  in  the 
t  the  Earl  ot  Tilbury 
the  son's  heart  lilie  a 
d  in  t  lie  most  horrible 
mystery  about  which 
ieorse  Barton's  brain 
tch-spring;  his  hands 
Q  his  forehead.     The 
ws  ot  death  and  crime 
grief  almost  weighed 

nguish.  It  is  diflicult 
t  \\^rd8  to  say  in  such 
I  with  soothing  fingers 
Hashing  stroke  as  that, 
own  incompetence  in 
ion  in  his  voice,  as  he 
m  the  aim  of  the  chair, 
stay,  let  me  go  and  get 


A    WEEIv    OF    PASSION. 


88 


He  made  a  step  toward  the  door  to  fetch  It  himself,  but  George 
stop(icd  him. 

"  No,  my  lord,  thank  you,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  recover  in  a  mo- 
nunt.  It  seems  so  dreadful  now  that  there  can  be  no  doubt  about 
it.     1  will  try  to  master  my  feelings." 

Still,  his  head  sunk  into  his  hands. 

The  eail,  nevertheless,  went  out  of  the  room.  He  thought  the 
young  man  would  probably  recover  more  readily  if  he  were  left 
alone  lor  a  while  with  his  grief,  so,  to  makea  pielextfor  his  absence, 
lie  went  for  some  wine.     He  was  very  uncomfortable. 

And  then  there  happened  one  of  those  Urange  and  unaccountable 
things  which  no  science  and  no  thcorits  of  supernatural  govtrnmcnt 
or  influences  can  satisfactorily  explain,  one  of  those  fatal  incidents 
Jn  which  all  the  actors  seem  to  be  the  puppets  of  some  fantastic 
prestigiator,  and  are  unconsciously  entangling  themselves  in  the  net 
ot  an  inextricable  destiny.  As  the  earl  was  directing  his  steps  to 
the  dining-room  to  seek  tor  the  wine,  Lady  Blanche,  wrapped  In  a 
long,  white  mantle,  came  out  of  the  morning-room,  ready  to  enter 
the  carriage  which  had  been  ordeied  round  from  the  stables  to  take 
her  to  the  house  of  the  Marchioness  ot  Wight,  a  cousin  of  the  earl's, 
who  was  to  be  her  chapeion  for  the  evening.  Her  eye  was  quick. 
Slie  read  trouble  and  cousternalion  in  her  father's  face.  He  had 
not  informed  his  children  of  the  statement  made  by  Lord  Tilbury. 


Why,  papa,"  she  said,  putting  her  two  hands  on  his  shoulders, 
nua  looking  earnestly  at  him,  "  you  look  quite  pale.  Are  you  ill? 
What  has  happened?    Has  George  Barton  gone  already?" 


The  earl,  in  his  trouble,  did  not  notice  the  familiar  manner  in 
which  she  had  named  the  young  man. 

"  JMo,"  he  said.  "  He  is  not  well.  1  was  goinff  to  get  him  a 
glass  of  wine.  He  has  just  heard  something  which  has  affected 
him  very  painfully." 

"  Papa,  let  me  go  for  it!"  cried  his  daughter,  throwing  off  her 
mantle  on  a  settee  which  was  near  her,  putting  her  arm  through  her 
father's,  and  drawing  him  into  her  room,  a  room  dear  and  sacied 
to  him  by  tnany  memories.  "  Sit  down  there  while  1  get  it— you 
need  something,  too." 

"  No— give  mc  a  glass  of  water,  and  fetch  some  wine  tor  him." 

There  was  water  standing  on  the  table  in  a  silver  flagon.  She 
brought  him  a  glassful. 

"  Papa,"  she  said,  "  do  tell  me  what  has  happened!  What  is  It 
that  vou  have  heard  to  trouble  you  so  much?" 

"  My  dear  Blanche,"  replied  the  earl,  who  felt  revived  by  the 
draught,  "don't  trouble  yourself  about  it -it  is  very  painful  news 
—and  you  are  going  out.  You  had  better  leave  us— 1  can  manage 
quite  well— and  you  will  hear  about  it  to  morrow." 

"  No— please,  papa,  1  could  not  go  away  now;  1  should  be  oa 
thorns  all  the  night.  1  shall  not  go  out  tonight,"  she  said,  with 
decision;  and  she  ran  to  the  bell,  which  she  rang  with  nervous 
force. 

"  Yes,  yes,  my  dear  Blanche,  you  must  go,"  said  the  earl,  ear- 
nestly. "  It  is  most  important  that  there  should  be  no  fuss  or  gos- 
sip about  this  affair  of  Barton's,  and  you  will  only  make  people 
wonder  why  you  are  absent  from  the  palace.    1  entreat  you  not  to 


84 


A    WEKIv     OF    I'ASSIOK. 


I 


nltm-  vour  nrransements.    Tbcre  is  renlly  nnihing  to  cull  tor  your 

*"u!lvX>'cheh.ul  nltcaay  P«t  (lowu  at  her  escritoire,  aiul  began 
to  scribble  aju.te  to  llic  nmreliiom'ss.  .. 

"  Well    imnn  "  ''lie  s'lid,  stoppinsr  hor  ren  tor  nn  inslani,      i  i 
l,.n  vou  vl  .1    •  1  .In.     ni  ask  ll.e  nmrchione«.  to  take  '"e  "P  I'fre 
0,1  la"  way  fromlbe  Purl.ngtons'.  a.ul  1  can  go  to  the  ball  all  the 
same." 

••foHo;i"\driSl«my"o  go  ^-Uh  the  carriage  to  the  Marchioness 
nf  AViS  "ami  k'ave  this  note.  1  shall  not  want  the  can.agc  agam 
^o^ll'l/t  themShmess  ^viH  call  for  n>e  here  on  ber  way  from 
Pnrtbind  Pl;ice  to  Huolilncbam  Palace.  ., 

T  Icir  ever  carried  on  a  discussion  before  bis  servants.  He 
WHS  obliged  to  keep  silent  while  this  order  was  being  given;  be^ 
Tides  lelcnew  that  when  his  daughter  had  made  up  one  nund-to 
siues  "^- ''"«"  '""        .  little  use  trying  to  make  up  another. 

''' ''No^  pa;;;  "  Bhelid  ll  en  n^^  had  left  the  lOom,  as 

she  cameove?  and  planted  herself  in  a  determined  attitude  opposite 

'^^.  Vv'\TV;:iiSe\yrll!rYsiipp°oTri  may  as  well  tell  you  ot  it  ut 
Well,  you  iiiiie  \->  '"i;  „  ,  „,,oken      From  the  first  words 

fruherldTsSf  h  rd\J  S^^^^  th.  victim  of  that 

uSrSuirss  in  RegentVircus  was  none  otherthanMr.  Barton. 

Ladv  Blanche  clasped  her  hands  together 

••nfn  Mr  Barton!  How  dreadful!  What  r.  terrioie  u  ow  lor 
poorG^JgeBarUmT  But  we  are  forgetting  him.    Go  up  to  him; 

^slIeS'vS;ed%TiouglftlfeSioor  oefore  the  earl  could  speak. 
MP  rose  and  has  S  the  staircase,  anxious  lo  see  whether 

^U  vlaori  ad  recovered  a  little  from  ids  emotion.  George  Barton 
Si  saf^i  h  his  head  between  his  hands.  The  blood  was  coursing 
h  oSb  Ws  body\.ith  ciuickened  impulse,  his  tenaples  we  e  throb- 
wn^  R  Brtfftt  strueale  was  being  fought  out  within  his  soul.  Tlie 
bing;  ftKr^-aisirugMe  wao        fr  ^^^^^^    Barton's  mind,  from  any 

'=''"  TXm  ?Sae  crime  which  tws  now  certain  had  been  com- 
Sc^  ffiesLemedlX  so  inextricably  involved  with  those  at 

BaiSn's    lea  wer    corr  c^o  separate  the  earl  from  his  advisers 
S,at  when  the  wung  man  reflected  on  the  justice  which  be  felt  i  to 
1  hiB  sacm'  dutv  to  pursue,  he  was  appalled  at  the  penis    vhuh 
^vould  Imne  ,v"  the  head  of  the  man  in  whose  b-use  be  was  sitting 
Tud   consequent  y  of  the  woman  toi  whom  he  had  conceived  a  wild 
«nrt^,oneloss  D-Vsion     At  all  risk  his  father's  honor  should  be  vin- 
dicatStbat  was  a  definite  decree  ot  Geof^'e  Barton's  conscience, 
flfswore  by  no  gods,  and  took  no  supernatura   powers  to  witne  s 
U  wa^^l^e  cllm!  inflexible  dictate  of  reason  and  justice  that  be  should 
rdert^kVthat  task,  regardlessot  nimsdi  of  his  o^ 
^nnaprnipnpes  to  auv  one  concerned.    On  tue  otner  uanu.  uikik  «ci<= 
U°rterriWe  complications  of  the  situation.    The  figure  ot  the  ear 
Is  eoUfather  his  father's  friend,  bis  own  generous  patron,  as  he 
SadleJni  that  lay  in  his  chambers,  rose  up  before  him.   It  seemed 


to 
bu 

vo 
wl 
toi 

tiK 

his 
aor 
d(( 
niK 
tlic 
tio: 
hai 
too 

Blf 

goi 
pal 
1 
sal' 
cy 
tab 
wo 
ove 


his 

I 

hor 

tlie 


Bar 
bua 
nov 

S 

que 

liasi 

out. 

waa 

pos( 
t< 

int 
of  J 
my 
whi 
and 
bur; 
peci 
in  in 
htivi 
unc 


A    WEKK    OF    PASSION. 


85 


to  cull  tor  your 

fffire,  ami  began 

[in  inslant,  "  I'll 
tnke  nie  up  here 
»  thu  ball  nil  the 


the  Mnrchioness 
lie  Clin  inge  affain 
n  lier  way  from 

lis  servants.  ITc 
beinp;  given;  be- 
up  one  mind— to 
ikc  up  another, 
left  the  loom,  as 
attitude  opposite 

11  tell  you  ot  it  ut 
am  the  first  words 
\\i  victim  ot  that 
Lhan Mr.  Barton." 

terrible  blow  for 
Go  up  to  him; 

earl  could  speak, 
us  lo  see  whether 
1.  George  Barton 
lood  was  coursing 
mples  were  throb- 
lin  his  soul.  The 
s  mind,  from  any 
ain  had  been  com- 
Ived  with  those  at 

intensified,  point- 
[lifilcult,  if  George 
from  his  advisers, 
3  which  he  felt  it  to 
t  the  peiils  which 
•>use  he  was  sitting. 
id  conceived  a  wild 
nor  should  be  vin- 
arton's  conscience, 
powers  to  witness; 
stice  that  he  should 

own  future,  of  the 
er  hand,  there  were 

figure  ot  the  earl, 
arous  patron,  as  he 
ore  him.    It  seemed 


lo  plead  for  forbearance  luid  mercy— metcy  not  only  for  lilmselt. 
but  for  the  base,  dastardly  creatures  wlins'e  punishment  mus't  in- 
volve him  in  shame  and  disgrace.  And  tlien  there  was  tlint  vision 
which  hud  only  a  few  minutes  before  Hashed  its  htiglitness  on  Tiur- 
fon's  eyes  and  lieart,  willi  its  voice  ot  tender  symimtliy,  llie  loucli 
that  thrilled  him  with  a  strange  delight,  tlie  look  wliic'h  eleclrilieil 
his  frame;  how  could  he  Ijcar  to  see  iiku  sullcrina  tlie  unmerited 
sorrows  of  a  dishonored  name  and  of  broken  fortunes?  Cruel,  in- 
<1' cil,  was  llie  struggle  wliicli  wtis  going  on  in  llie  young  man's  mind, 
"■id  of  the  duration  ol  whicli  he  had  l)eeii  nuite  "unconscious,  wliile 
the  silver  clock  on  the  mantel-iiieco  ticked  on  steadily.  His  lelkc- 
tioiia  were  interrupted  by  tiie  return  of  J^ord  i>ell)y.  George  Barton 
hardly  felt  able  to  liold  up  Ids  head  and  face  to  the  earl,  as  he  quietly 
took  his  seat  by  his  side. 

"  1  went,"  said  the  earl,  gently,  "  to  get  you  some  wine.  1  met 
Blanche  in  the  hall  "—George  tfeinl>led  at  tlie  name—"  and  she  has 
gone  lo  get  it  for  you.  She  is  lil<e  her  motlier— always  full  ol  sym- 
pathy and  gooilness.     Ah!  here slie  comes." 

The  door  was  pushed  quietly  open,  iiud  Liidy  Blanche,  a  silver 
salver  held  out  in  both  liands,  on  wliich  were  a'  Hagoii  of  water,  a 
cystal  decanter  ot  wine,  and  two  glasses  advanced  silently  to  the 
fable.  Her  tace  was  animated  with  exertion.  George,  at  the  last 
words  of  tlie  earl,  started  to  his  feet,  and  a  deadly  pallor  spread 
over  his  features. 
She  rapidly  poured  out  a  glass  of  wine,  and  held  it  out  to  him. 
"Not  that,"  )ia  said,  as  a  flush  rapidly  replaced  the  paleness  in 
his  cheek;  "  but  i  will  take  a  glass  ot  water,  please." 

He  moved  as  it  to  help  himself,  but  she  forestalled  him.     From 
her  hand  he  took  the  clear  and  brilliant  goblet,  and  emptied  it  to 
the  last  drop.    Each  drop  was  an  elixir. 
"  Do  j'ou  feel  better?"  she  said.  ,     . 

"  les — Lady  Blanche— thank  you,  ever  so  much?"  ' 

"The  earl  has  told  me— 1  can  not  say  how  grieved  1  am,  Mr. 
Barton.  It  is  really  too  dreadful.  But  you  are  strong— you  will 
bear  up,  1  am  sure— for— for  your  mother's  sake.  I  will  leave  j-oii 
now,  papa.     Good-night!" 

She  did  not  otter  him  her  hand  this  time,  but  her  look  was  elo- 
quent with  sympathy  and  encouragement;  and  as  George  Barton 
hastened  to  the  door,  she  gave  him  a  little  farewell  bow  in  passing 
out.  He  saw  a  jew^eled  tear  run  down  her  cheek,  and  once  more  he 
was  left  in  daikness.  But  now  he  turned  to  the  earl  with  a  com- 
posed manner,  and  spoke  in  a  firm,  strong  voice: 

"  My  lord,  during  the  few  liours  that  have  passed  since  1  saw  you 
in  the  Tample,  1  have  had  time  to  go  carefully  through  all  the  facts 
or  your  relations  with  Pollard  &  Pollard,  which  were  stored  up  in 
my  memory,  and  I  have  assisted  it  by  a  reference  to  certain  notes 
which  1  made  from  time  to  time,  and  to  some  confidential  lett<;i-3 
and  papers  of  my  lather's  which  are  in  my  possession.  Lord  Til- 
bury's confirmation  of  my  worst  suspicions  came  upon  me  so  uucx 
pcctedly  that  1  was  utterly  overwhelmed,  although  1  thought  my 
mina  was  already  so  firmly  convinced  tliat  no  new  evidence  could 
have  any  effect  on  me.  1  suppose  1  must  have  been  cherishing  some 
unconscious  doubts  or  hopes.     You,  doubtless,  now  agree  with  me 


m 


8R 


A 


WEEK    OF    I'ASSION. 


I 


.,a.  n.v  poor  iathe.  re^^^^^^^^  S?tU 
UM.  iu.e  you  .10  ""' ^«  »7,«„Srv  There  is  nolhln^  left  for  us  but 
?o7:lS;ure  ^Sa^rim/bS^nd  U..s  tUcrc  is  nn  internal  plo.  and 

conclusion.     There  is  no  po  si blc  roo^^^^^^  j,:^^  commiUing 

xvh<,  aie  the  persons  who  cm      .uvour  iather?    My  itnairination  is 
suchacrimouponsuch  am      uBjour  im  :■    tuconceivably 

coM.plelL-ly  at  f«"  »•  ,T''L  'that  1  can  not  reconcile  it  with  the 
^i;::!rr  ot"".h^"U!i-  "t'iLV        .uspldons  are  evidently 

poor  talher  had  t«»n^V?''«i^?.«lS  as  o  understand  it,  is  ronum- 
[hat  fatal  afternoon.  ^I'^.fl''^^^^^^' "  u^k  ow  everything,  you  will 
tic  and  painful  enotiRh;  bu    when  yo  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^ 

cease  to  feel  atiy  ^°"\'!'^ '^Se'world  so  far  as  I  know,  with  .eg.ru 

people,  the  only  pcop  e  in  '»« JX'';'"  =    ^^^^,,^1  a.  disgraceful  secret. 

o  wliom  my  poor  ta'her  carried  in      «  ^^^''^i^'^.^    ^^j.ie  bad  in  pre- 

You  are  not  yet  Bware  ^\'''t  » j""  /^'iaTd„   1,°'^  t6»<*ng  1^'"''^! '° 
3;:i^rmSrcvT«n  SrleVoots  of  their  criminality 

^•^ ^'?^^S: you  mean.  anoU^^cr^^-^ 

^Uh  the  transaction  which  tlave^  ^^  ,^^^  ^^  ,„ 

"  Yes,  my  lord.    The  "^^»'J^^"r\,f,.^^  ^^^^^  my  father  unearthed, 

very  severeV'l«'ne°t';'"'«lf,f ' S  KS^^^^^  it  is  compara- 

,nd  of  wbicii  the  two  Po llan^^^^  j^,'^,,,^.  ..nd  cer- 

tive  innocence.  ^''P°t'"lVt„.o  Remeinber,  my  lord,  that-just 
tain  consignment  to  \tf«°«i*"^^inerth.a  my  father  was  the  only 
as  you  did-thcy  must  »"'Xt,,  the  tnclst  this  complicated  business 
person  living  •acquainted  with  the  tncU  oi.u  ^^^^^^^^,^  p^ovi- 

-thcy  could  never  l»fl^«  ^"^P^P^'„  Sie/  whicU  he  le- 

deuce,  ray  father  had  '"'"^^"^ted  to  anoint  nu         ^  ^^,_,„^  .egrets 

gaided  as  almost  ^  f"?'^?,'^"^' ^y  tirthe  had  called  me  iu  to 
^hich  were  filling  ^{^'"^iSlSsind  carry  the  responslbil  ties  of 
^K'lLroTtTfflcursiiSns  hom  wl?ich  an  honorable  man 

^ith  which  young  Bar  on  expressed  l^^«e»- ^,^J„    t,,,,me.  to  no 
was  dawning  on  h.m  that  h  s  godson  ua  .^^  impatience 

small  extent,  the  master  of  Us  destiny  experienced 

like  one  who  of  old  consuUed  the  orac^^^  ^^^. 

peer,  whose  word  before  now  lad  inmienc  t^iday  he  would 

'"?.rr'going  to  suggest,-'  con,imj.lGeorseBart^^^^ 
should  first'slate  the  acts  as  ^l^^yjll^^^^^^XT^    1  will,  at  the 
rrlim?'  ivc"m;^n  P     sirnrortheir  bearing  on  your  present 


< 

1 

I 
1 
t 

t 

fl 
\ 

t 

r 

1 

■V 
1< 
a 
a 
k 
a 
h 
a 

a 
d 
ri 
ii 
b 
h 
n 
n 


Ill  cntoslroplie.  1 
lie  author  ot  8\ich 
linn  left  for  \is  but 
II  Internal  plot  and 

are  driven  to  tl>at 
it  any  lonj,'er.  Hut 
ve  tor  coinmilling 
My  itnasrination  is 
Is  80  inconceivably 
concile  it  with  the 
jions  lire  eviilcntly 

;  know  all  that  n»y 
10  have  told  you  on 
.•rstand  it,  is  ronian- 
iverythinj,',  you  will 
■e  taatened  on  those 
know,  with  icgnru 
\  disgraceful  secret. 
■e  people  had  in  pre- 
om  taking  place,  in 
5  of  their  criminality 

lelhing  unconnected 
se  to  regret  •;" 

to  may  be  open  to 
my  father  unearthed, 
rators,  it  is  compara- 
lin  for  them,  and  cer- 
r,  my  lord,  that— just 
[  father  was  the  only 
complicated  business 
me  myBteiious  provi- 
0(1— one  which  he  le- 
the  important  secrets 
:  had  called  me  iu  to 

the  responsibilities  ot 
ch  an  honorable  man 

at  the  ease  and  power 
f.  The  coaseiousness 
iddenly  become,  to  no 
li  feverish  impatience. 
Ilia  astute,  experienced 
he  destinies  ot  nations 
ily  yesterday  he  would 
th  languid  or  patroniz- 

orge  Barton,  "that  I 
,  tome,  and  ask  you  to 
wledge.  1  will,  at  the 
earing  on  your  present 


A    WKEK    OK    I'ASSIOX. 


87 


position  and  my  father's  fate.  Wlien  wo  have  our  case  dear]}' 
stated,  as  the  lawyers  sny,  we  may  roiisult  as  to  tlie  liest  course  to 
be  taken  in  your  personal  interest  and  in  that  ot  Jiihtiee. " 

"  iNolliini'  could  he  l)elter.  Vou  remind  me  strangely  of  your 
poor  lather's  nietliod  of  doing  tilings— tliough  it  is  no  injuslice  to 
liiiii  to  itay  that  the  son  has  learned  to  improve  upon  the  lather." 

The  color  came  into  the  young  man's  face  at  this  compliment, 
which.  Irom  such  u  quarter,  was  no  idle  one;  but  ho  said,  simply, 

"  The  thoughtful  son  may  succeed  to  some  ot  the  accumulated 
wisdom  ot  his  fatliei,  as  the  thoughtless  one  too  often  does  to  Ids 
parent's  wealth.  1  deserve  liltlecredit  if,  living  witli  such  a  man,  1 
have  imbibed  some  of  his  spirit.  But  before  1  fu  any  further,  1 
wish  to  diseliarge  my  mind  of  a  matter  vvliicli  has,  since  you  left  me 
this  afternoon,  lieen  weighing  on  it  ratliei  licavily.  My  lord,  when 
1  called  this  morning  in  Giosvenor  Place,  1  intended  td  liftve  had  an 
interview  wiih  the  Countess  of  Tilbury." 

The  earl  started,  but  was  silent.  He  had  learned  this  from  Simp- 
son, and  it  liad  troubled  him;  but  after  the  ilelicato  explanation 
with  yovmg  Barton,  he  would  not  himsell  have  broached  the  sub- 
ject. 

"  1  nsk  you  to  forgive  me  the  intention— which,  fortunately,  was 
defeated.  Sly  brain  was  disordeied  with  grief  and  anxiety,  and  1 
could  hardly  say  what  1  was  going  to  (ell  her,  or  wlmt  precise  ob- 
ject 1  had  in  view.  Brooding  over  the  business  day  and  night,  1  Inid 
grown  desperate.  But  tor  your  frank  and  well-timed  visit,  it  is 
Lard  to  say  what  grievous  misunderstandings  might  not  have 
plunged  us  all  in  ruin  and  confusion.  Thank  Heaven,  my  lora, 
for  the  inspiration  which  led  you  to  my  cliambers!  Now  1  am  able  to 
ofler  my  poor  services  with  a  clear  conscience,  and  will  do  my  best 
to  help  to  defeat  this  wicked  conspiracy,  which  was  aimed  as  well 
at  your  ctedit  and  fortune  as  at  my  father's  life.  The  situation  has 
become  even  more  serious  than  ^ou  suspect." 

"  Well,"  said  the  earl,  gloomily,  "  1  must  face  it  as  bravely  as  1 
may.  For  myself,  1  am  near  the  end  ot  life's  tether,  and  1  might 
manage  to  endure  the  penalty  or  wrong-doing,  severe  as  would  be 
the  wounds  to  my  pride  and  egoism.  But— there  are  otliers;  it 
would  bt  hard  to  leave  a  soiled  escutcheon  to  my  heir,  though  GoU 
knows  there  is  little  chance  of  his  maintaining  its  luster!  And  there 
are  Blanche  and  Charlie— there  is  my  sister— and  poor  Tilbury,  who 
already  looks  upon  me  as  a  father— and  with  whom  1  had  hopes  of 
knitting  a  closer  relationship— it  would  be  dreadful  to  bring  them 
all  under  the  shaUow  of  dishonor— more  dreadful  to  feel  myself  dis- 
honored in  their  eyes— and  with  such  a  name  and  after  sucii  a  career 
as  mine!" 

The  peer  sighed  heavily,  not  looking  at  his  visitor,  but  gazing 
about  distressfully  while  he  spoke.  George  Barton's  face  became 
deadly  pale  as  the  earl  unconsciously  uttered  the  fatal  words  which 
reminded  his  hearer  of  the  insuperable  nature  of  the  barrier  sland- 
inc  between  him  and  Ihe  fair  woman  who  had  onl}'  a  few  minutes 
before  inspired  him  with  new  life.  In  saving  the  sari's  reputation 
lie  would  be  helping  to  make  that  barrier  more  firm,  more  insur 
mountable  than  ever.  For  an  instant  a  horrible  thought  crossed  his 
mind,  only  to  be  dismissed  with  a  shudder  of  horror  and  shame  that 


■% 


^S 


88 


A     WEKK    OF     I'AISSIOX. 


i' 
4, 


^1   !!.,>.:..  iiiilil  tliislifu  trom  ilie  Imlloink'ss  pit  or  evil  wiiitH 

SrfS";!:S-:'tor  U^e  i^^  ior:\J\::a  seeded  to  put  uu  oxtin- 
guisher  on  a  }:lliunierin,L'  hope.  ,„„,.,.,... 

„„v!,.t«  in  riMrilrd  to— to  lliose  who  urn  so  duiir  to  you.  J.oril  i  iiuriLS 
anxK'tVHi  ii'Kiiniio    "'"""   Tiil.nrv  in  one  ot  my  most  vulued 

.1,0  Jn.7«l.p?i'Sn  ot  I..    SU.11 1  u™  ..ate  tte  (.«.  .=  1  «mW. 

'"He  »rTn«l.led,  .m.  B»,.ou,  luktos  0„t  «  «» -S-ii 'Si  assl.t 
•  I  liave  jolted  (lonn  liere  »ome  uiemotnoim  "liK-lt  "1"  M™' 

""In  m-  almo.t  e.v.clly  dsM  5««n  "S".  ",'=  !""» '^"' "1  Tit 


f 

h 

V 

p 

II 

it 

tl 
ll 
ll 
t( 
o 
it 

tl 
t] 

Ir 

p 


1 

li: 
tl; 
1)1 
w 

r, 

ri 

Ik 
ir 

111 
nr 
ar 

Im 
so 

Pi 

ca 
by 
en 

•Kt 


3r  of  the  liumlH- 
■l  (or  the  liiiinlile 
1(1  In  luT  v'"'"* 
lit  thii  wiis  only 
pit  or  evil  which 
lirinmnfia  of  tho 
in— iliiit  U  tosiiy, 
ly  a  harmless  tluit 
ilisheit  armor  ot  a 
lis  Oeorge  Huston 
id  to  put  nil  t'Xlln- 


,  that  1  share  your 
,-ou.  Lord  I'liarles 
my  most  valueil 
ilanohe  would  he  a 
to  bhiuia  her  troin 
y  father's  memory, 
It  1  liope  that  may 
■ttud  those  of  yonr 
nmedlntuly,  iiinl  at 
lous  situation." 
levise  the  means  ot 
1,  In  the  trouble  ot 
Barton's  manner, 
hud  \>cen  as  geuer- 

L-er.  kindly.  "You 
glass.  He  was  the 
t  me — more  shame 
(I  my  heart  to  h!m 
death.  You  might 
lis  candor— 1  thiuK 
Ijcrience,  to  his  con- 
nderhls  eyes— very 


A    M'EEK    OF    PASStOX. 


80 


i\nd  1  shall  try  to 
Ihe  f  nets  as  1  uuder- 

te-book,  said. 

la  which  will  assist 

llie  late  Earl  ol  Til- 
ole  issue  a  son,  the 
mense  landed  estates 
lis  properly  amount- 
You,  my  lord,  and 
utors  and  guardians 
Your  brother-in-law 
!te  tor  speculation — 
tore  he  died  he  had 
borhood  ot  liis  great 


Devonshire  properly.  Tliey  wore  called  Pcllon  and  J'JonilMaikT. 
ThtT  cost  toL't  tlicr  L'.V)(),()()0.  He  pnid  down  of  this  Mini  IJtiiO.dOO, 
and  by  the  n^irccniwnt  ol  I'urcliiisc,  the  liahince,  niiiiicly,  L':.'.")0  doo' 
was  loft  on  iiwitlgiige  at  :i  1-3  per  rent.,  which  eharuc  the  curl,  who 
had  calculated  IiI.h  resources  very  cleverly,  nrnuiL'ed  ,slioiilil  full  due 
In  18M-.  that  is  tills  very  year—iitmut  the  lime  when  his  son  would 
come  of  afic.  It  is,  1  lielieve,  In  connection  willi  ilic  luiyment  ot 
this  chiirire  at  its  malnrlly  iliat  your  lordship's  ililllculties  arose." 
The  carl  a.ssented  hy  a  movement  of  the  l.i  ml. 
"  'I'liow!  ditUculllcs  iiro.sc,  mm  lawvcis  would  siiv,  out  of  the  non- 

fensiiiice,  mistcasance,  and  lleaNMiice  of  I'ollard  .V:  Pollard    who 

had  lieen  the  solicitors  to  tho  tesliitoi,  and  wlioni  you  and  .Mr.'Palr. 
wav  had  coniiiiucd  as  sulicitors  to  ilie  estate." 

""ies— andwho  piaclically  lieoame  its  mnnnRers.  1  ninst  ex- 
plain to  you  hoiv  that  arose.  When  Lord  Tillniry  died,  and  loft 
nie  one  of  the  executors.  1  fell  ol.liired  to  accept  tho  trust,  all  hough 
it  was  a  very  onerous  one.  It  seemed  to  he  the  less  luiidensome 
that  Fairwny  was  my  eo-oxecutor,  and  no  abler  miin  roidd  have 
been  found  to  take  such  u  duty  upon  him.  I  was  deeply  cn>:aKO.] 
In  politics,  u  man  in  society,  ovoivvhelmed  with  anxieties  in  ifitnird 
to  my  own  estate,  which  you  know  is  a  very  large  and  tinublimome 
one.  It  roijuircd  all  your  father's  time  and  energies  to  supermtend 
II,  and  I  never  grudged  him  the  £1500  to  i'iiOOO  a  win-  he  got  tor  it 
—for  it  was  well  earned.  Fairway  and  1,  therefore,  arrantrocl  to 
divide  the  dutj-— he  undertook  to  siiperviso  Pollard  it  Pollard  in 
the  administration  of  the  estate,  while  I  agreed  to  take  my  nepliew 
In  hand,  and  look  to  his  education  and  preparation  for  the  1  urh 
position  he  was  to  till."  ^ 

"  He  will  do  justice  to  your  lordship's  care  and  aileo'.'on." 
"  He  is  a  good  fellow  every  way.  audit  lie  lives  through  this  crisis 
1  predict  lor  him  a  brilliant  career.  1  wish  my  eldest  son  were  like 
liim!  But  to  proceed.  .lust  as  Fairway  had  begun  to  master  ail 
the  details  of  the  administration  —  about  eiglit  months  after  mv 
brothcr-in  law's  fleath— he  died.  It  \ya8  a  grievous  loss  to  me— 1 
was  left  alone  with  this  colossal  trust  on  my  hands.  However 
Pollard  &  Pollard  were  an  eminent  firm— reputed  rich,  bevond  sus- 
picion, and  trusted  by  everybody.  I  thought  1  could  do  nothing 
better  than  leave  the  entire  management  in  their  hands,  endeavoring 
from  time  to  time  to  follow  up  what  they  were  doing." 

"  Precisely,  my  lord,  and  no  blame  can  attach  to  \\m  for  trusting 
Ihem,  especially  as  you  were  liable  tor  their  mistakes  if  they  made 
any.  iNevertheless,  out  of  this  contldcnce  sprung  all  your  troubles 
and  1  understand  it  aro,se  in  this  wnj-.  The  Into  Karl  of  Tlllury 
was  intimate  with  some  of  Ihe  princes  of  finance  in  :he  City,  anil 
liaving  a  large  ready  capital  always  disposab'e,  often  took  part  in 
some  of  their  combinations.  Among  others  he  had  rt  friend  in  51  r. 
I'iuxton,  tho  eminent  American  banker,  who.  ,shortly  before  the 
earl's  death,  proposed  to  film  to  join  in  a  large  operation  piojected 
by  an  American  group.  They  had  fixed  their  eves  on  a  railway 
called  the  '  New  ^ork,  Stockton,  and  Tallahasfee'Hailroad,'  wliicli 
was  at  the  moment  in  an  insolvent  condition,  but  which,  owing  to 
projected  linos,  was  destined  to  become  an  imporiant  link  in  con- 
necting the  Atlantic  Slates  with  iho  West.     Tho  object  ot  the  "-roup 


*;i 


'.10 


A 


WKEK     01'    I'ASSrON. 


K 


I 
I 


11  .1,,.  .loirn  ill  llilH  rnilwiiv,  iiml  Vii,\Uya  lulvlHcd 

WHB  to   .uy  up  all  th    ''';'•;"  J,;'*',,,,  -,  ,„u..r  conH.leiainby  to 

tlx^  curl  to  KO  '''''\''',.-VViu,?s.lf  il  .1  tlK-  movHiK'nl  was /..'/i.« 

New  Voik.  tl...  ••''V,;\';'  ';;J''L!;;,    (,     ^      sb^^^^^       a.  an  uvrauo 

^/,^  anti  Kii'urc.     Hi'  '"^•-^'V  \;  ,  Io\^^,     ,.  ,,v..r  i;r.(l-wli:'li    -:avu 

■''^•ti!?ioS you!  fl«l&'.''S  .1»  ,n...cr !»..  .1.0 ...  .,p«l  lU.lr 
allpnli.mr'  i  .hroiitpivi '^  UoM  them  respomiWe." 

coimtniclivc  "'-'g^'^'y*'-/^  '  "^  In  Xit  on  t<.  thai  there  was 
the  Tilbury  cHate  at  east  ''"•  "^,^_.„  ("^^  '  \ren.l  <.t  •■acli  voar.  at 
Ave  vvars-  interi;st  ^'l'''^^''' ^  ''"'T  "^^//.t'  ,  %,'  liubilitv  to  „.  arly 
the  fer.1  rule  of  Ave  per  cent..  brouMit  «MMOu_^  ^.^^^^.^..^^  ^^^^^^j^ 

£185.00( 
Decenibei 

S«  '"'v^S^aCr  ni^'n^omi;  Z  ;^.!ch  io  .nake  up  t.iis  pro- 

'"'^^Th^r'^acUy  seven  -c^«-  JJ-.^^^.^r US^rnv'SoS^^u 
lhuu.ler.clap.    1  suppose  your  "  Jer  Is  to  I  j<        ^,       :  ^         ,^ 

i';ruSlrlnrelo,r^?  ^^^X^,  ^^  «  cablet  mims. 

.The  amount,  calculated  on  the  £144.000.  wouKl  brin^  the  exact  total  to 
£183.784.  . 


.  yvars-  interesi,  ""'^''•;;' ',' ,  I"  -,  t  „„  your  liabililv  to  m  arly 

^S  "%ou  S;e^^no,lS'nt^u:i;' uioUn;..  'i'^f  V  J-IV^'^ 

St.    The  youuK  ^^-X^\:^  ^^  it^cJof Vaml- 
)  for  Pellon  ami  Eion-Marley  hatl  t    ^,^J  ;  '  "  „„k^  .,,,  u,is  pro- 


i. 


Pli.xtou  lulviswl 
coiillili'iitiuliy  10 
a-iiK'nl  WHS  Ixiiiii. 
■H,  al  im  uvmiKO 

•,(|_wliW'll     \'IIV0 

thin  "iri'f  M'litu 

m,  ii  „:  i.ii  tm*.- 
„l.'inl.<i  r  iivply 

•:ion  >i-.''i'y. 

out  Hir  ( ily  <or 

I  III  tfio— win!  lo 
(ISC  ii^'iiln  to  CIUI. 
,li:lic»  wrro  lo  ln! 

your  duty  us  ex- 
roue.  II  w;i8  till) 
(!  tlit'Mi,  wlio  liml 
ken  tin-  rc«l>oii»i- 
to  Imvc  rciiiimli'il 
lou.    Tliuy  never 

to,  lii   1  wlicu  llio 

also  (  >  ..peel  tUelr 

l8p01>*tU)U!. 

of  tlu.'ir-iifgl('ci? 
—was  very  serious 
curl  iuteiiileil  and 
lulil  liiive  i-cali/.eii 
ould  liiive  Ih'.'II  re- 
le  pay  mini  of  Uie 
vo  estates.  When 
i>n  you  the  sliarci* 
tiol  have  Kali/.etl 
cglect  '— and  your 
ihUi  to  ninUe  up  to 

II  to  thai  there  was 
11(1  ()t  each  year  at 
r  liability  to  luarly 

IS  llahiirty  *'i';ly  ^^ 
;l)ruarv— the  ri.'iO,- 
al  tlie  end  of  .lauu- 
[jinake  upiliispro- 

me  upon  mc  like  a 
u  what  my  position 
liad  lo  pay  Liiyton's 
y  was  lockea  up  in 
ptoii  eslute,  wliicli 
lis  a  Cabinet  niinis- 

■iuic  the  exact  total  to 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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Collection  de 
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Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOK. 


91 


ter,  for  thrcR  3'enrs  and  ollierwise,  hart  been  very  heavy.  Your  fa- 
ther hud  ruiaed  with  great  difficulty  ilOO.OOO  in"  November  to  meet 
tlie  more  pressine  tngngements,  and  he  had  warned  me  that  the 
drain  n  ust  stop.  He  required  a  large  floating  capital  for  the  Cleve- 
land mines,  but  he  siiid  that  in  lime,  if  1  would  give  him  fair  play, 
those  and  the  Kensington  property  would  bring  mo  out  all  right, 
and  leave  my  landed  estates  unimpaired,  lie  was,  as  usual,  13rm 
and  candid,  and  frightened  me  terribly  by  threatening  to  throw  up 
the  agency  unless  1  could  manage  to  keep  down  expenses.  During 
all  the  period  of  our  relations  we  had  never  l)een  so  near  a  serious 
quarrel.  And  upon  this  came  Pollards'  demand  for  over  £180,000. 
You  can  imagine  my  distross.  1  was  nearly  frantic.  It  seems 
ridiculous  for  a  man  with  a  rent-roll  of  seventy  thousand  a  year  to 
say  so;  but  you  see  1  have  sunk  over  a  quarter  of  a  million  in  tliose 
mines,  which  are  now— only  now— becinning  to  pay  their  way,  and 
1  have  paid  £300,000  for  Layton  during  the  last  lour  years.  80  that 
when  this  came  upon  n»e  I  was  utterly  nonplused.  1  did  not  dare 
to  go  to  your  father.  1  thought  he  would  leave  me  in  despair— a 
stupid  idea,  as  was  afterward  proved." 

"  1  believe  also  that  Pollards  objected  to  his  intervention  in  the 
matter. ' ' 

"  Well,  1  had  told  them  very  franlcly  what  my  position  was,  not 
only  generally,  but  in  regard  to  him,  and  1  see  now  thai  they  took 
advantage  of  my  difficulties.  1  suppose  they  did  not  want  him  to 
become  aware  of  the  '  laches  ' — 1  think  you  call  it? — of  which  they 
Lad  been  guilty." 

"  My  lord,"  said  George  IBarton,  "  you  will  see  directly  that  the 
term  is  utterly  inadequate  to  describe  their  conduct.  As  my  knowl- 
edge of  what  ensued  upon  this  is  somewhat  hazy  and  imperfect,  per- 
haps ^vou  will  have  no objiction  to  tell  me,  in  your  own  words,  what 
took  place  between  you  and  Pollard  &  Pollard?" 

"  Certainly,  1  will  do  so,"  said  the  earl,  getting  up,  and  walking 
up  and  down  the  room  to  collect  his  thoughts. 


CHAPTER   JX. 

THE  PEEK  AND  HIS  SOLICITORS.  'f 

"Before,"  said  the  earl,  "  1  detail  the  incidents  leading  up  to 
the  transaction  which  has  caused  me  so  much  sorrow  and  humilia- 
tion, let  me  shortly  describe  the  condition  in  which  1  found  myself 
when  that  unpleasant  surpiise  was  sprung  upon  nie  by  the  Pol- 
lards. 

'•  1  owed  the  estate  £185,000,  in  reduction  of  which  there  were 
the  shares,  worth,  at  the  time,  say  £30,000,  so  that  1  had  to  make 
up  the  sum  of  over  £150,000.  The  Pollards,  however,  told  me  the 
shares  were  rising  rapidly  again,  and  that  1  had  better  hold  them. 
TJiey  turned  out  to  be  correct  in  their  judgment— to-day  thev  are  at 
£25,  and  would  realize  £60,000.  Well,  the  charges  on  Tilbury's 
two  estates  in  Devonshire,  amounting  to  £250,000,  would  have  to  be 
paid  at  the  end  of  January.  When  the  Pollards  informed  me  of 
the  oversight,  there  was  lying  to  the  credit  of  the  Tilbury  estate  in 


■M 


02  A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 

UK.  nanU  Of  E„,lan.i  a^-'t  J180.000;  they  sn^^^^^^^^^^ 
nephew  c:une  ot  !.«<■  1' '  ^"'^ /i'\  [.^e  Uv  th  them  that  tW),000 
remly  nio.u-y  al  Ins  'V^'r^/.r^L  leaS  t  e  £100.000  uvaihihlo 
Bhonkl  be  lelt  for  tl.at  P  X'^"-' ''-''''1°''„4  clear,  therefore,  that- 
toward  the  payment  o  the  "^P  '^«-  i'.J'e  or  else  the  mistaUe  we 
1  must  make  up  ^^'^^  °'^f;,,'^}fZ^ ^^  h^^^^^^^  »«  Tilb..rv;    It 

iKul  made  between  us  ^^7>'';'J\'°„  excessively  tinplea.suat,  that 
„n,ht  f.etout,  am  '  J"  J  c^J.ou  be  aSted  to  L  hi  dealing 
sucli  a  gross  act  ol  n<-'K-*-"*l'-,,'^°  '",,„.  i,,.i,iw.  In  fact,  my .( nwu v 
will',  sueh  an  estate  as  that  o  ''™ ^.l  L'  made  right  at  once.  I 
proprc  demanded  that  '^^,^'''ll'l'~^  tor  which 

could  not  allow  T  1  bury  s  '"»^'^'^,  *  !!f  eoi Ud  not  have  It  said  that 
1  was  morally  and  legally  '•^f»,"^^°.''''';,./,Xrge  debtor  to  the  estate 
on  the  day  when  he  came  ";„f■l.,;;;'J3^KVere  anxious  that  the 

lS:;:Sci^Sern.nS^^;Su%nce-theiraes,retoKeep 

your  lather  oui  of  the  l^"^'"':'«-^;i'''(;^„°/^;,  Barton,    significantly. 

•Not  entirely,  ruy   '"I^l;,  .f"'^.  ^h'b  1  will  tell  vou  directly.'' 

•  ■  They  had  other  rcasonB  for   hat  o  ;      c    i  wm  ^ ^  ^^^^^^ 


k.  > 


iiuc  i.v,^"" -•    ■ -..  hnirnnthinsr  tO  (  O  UUl  nana   iiicui    ".^..       - 

don  in  my  sale.    l^''\\^Xuh^ n^Mcv  h<xi\  been  liumgcd,  tor 

>"':'""«!  'ri'f  ^TS  estile  are  m-  ense.  .md  there  was  no  c.uesttou 
a  time  at  least,  ny  '-*7,, .,,,',  '  u,,,.„  .i-ig  heavv  slra  n.  Even  if  1 
ot  their  being  able  eventually   o  bear  thmc.y  ^^^^^^ 

were  called  on  to  maliC  a  '"^"il^f,^\[,,^fi"^p  Hw  the  payment  of  the 
.'  But  about  ten  days  l«to'e  tjre  time  1  xe     or        v   .>  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^^_ 
£250,000  to  the  mortgagees  irecevo^  a  visinm^^  ^^^^^  ^^._^^_ 

lard,  the  junior  i^e"^^";   "f   ''    ^^  ^'"^^^^^  manner,  but 

^^ST:^£'^s'':Ar^>^'^U>.r^^y  cunning   and 

-"^^t^l  good  deal  o;  -cuml^cution^ari^^^^ 

-!;S'^.:eSs  ;S^S!^  ^ffe^^lf  ed^o  advance  the  .noney 

declined  to  do  so  otr  tl^V'^-«f°f;f  .^^^."Sallowed  n.e  to  remain  nn- 
•'  1  was  thunderstruck.     Here  tiL      '  '  ^'^^^^    ,    ^^^^^  u.e  matter 

der  the  i'^PresT^s""?^.!!  ,'luied  thenfas  71^^^     and  ot  course 
was  settled.     1  had  "«'  '^siricted  them  as  lo  ,      ^^  ^^^^^ 

they  would  have  charged  >»«     leavy  <>0"»^^fJ«";,,,3  ,m,^,  «^„,rv. 

re^;it;srSs^elf%rewhat''t;eelJ.  %:.  Charles  Pollard  simpfy 

i.inK  Bbrr^..ed  his  shoulders    ancU^.^  ^,^^.^.  ,^,^, 

"  •  I  assure  your  lordship  we  nave  •'""*= '"'.^  .j     ,„aiter  was 


isted  that  when  my 
;  a,  iiiir  nmoiint  of 
them  lliat  tW),000 
£100,000  uviiilalilo 
letir,  therefore,  that: 
;lse  the  mislaUe  we 
sea  to  Tilb'iry;    it 
ily  (inpleasuut,  llmt 
ed  to  1110  in  dealing 
In  fact,  my  (("»«(■ 
le  riglit  at  once.     I 
\  blunder  tor  whicli 
lot  have  it  said  that 
debtor  to  the  estate 
rere  anxious  that  the 
» laid  them  oiien,  at 
Tills  explains  what 
-their  desire  to  keep 

irton,  significantly, 
ill  tell  vou  directly.' 
r  action.  Ot  course 
;,  especially  without 
however,  in  what  1 
manner,  lold  me  it  I 
draisenic  the  money 

and  a  deposit  ot  the 
0  deeds  here  in  Lou- . 
Iiaud  them  over.  I 
»d  been  arranged,  for 
here  was  no  question 
/y  strain.  Even  if  1 
ill  be  a  rich  mun. 
or  the  pavment  of  the 
rom  Mr.  Charles  Pol- 
bably  have  seen  him, 

an  oily  manuev,  but 
rdinary  cunning  and 

many  professions  of 
j-htness  of  the  moncy- 
10  advance  the  mouey 

>wed  me  to  remain  un- 
luent,  that  the  matter 
Q  terms,  and  ot  coiirsc 
ssion.  Now  they  lold 
\\d  1  was  rather  angrv. 
Charles  Pollard  simply 

IV  best— our  very  bist. 
ou'dit  the  matter  was 
reliable— very  skittish! 


A    WEKK    OF    I'ASSION. 


93 


~  '.'■-*f»# 


"When  the  i»mk-rato  goes  up  they  draw  in  tlieir  horns— like  snails, 
my  lord,  like  snails  you  know;  there  is  no  getting  them  out  of  their 
shells.'  " 

The  peer  unconsciously  imitated  Mr,  Charles  Pollard's  manner  in 
a  nay  that  forced  a  smile  tioni  George  Barton's  jirave  lace. 

"  •  Devil  take  your  bankers,  Mr.  Pollard,'  1  said;  '  1  have  nothing 
to  do  Willi  bankers  or  bank-rates,     i  ou  promised  me  faillifully  to. 
find  the  money.     'Vhy  have  you  not  done  so— or  at  least  why  not 
let  me  know  sooner  that  you  couhln'tV 

"  '  We  regret,  3'our  lordship,  we  arc  deeply  grieved,  your  lordship, 
but  it  was  quite  impossible— quite.  The  .security,  you  see,  is"  not 
quite  up  to  the  mark.  Now,  if  we  had  been  able  to  oiler  a  cleau 
mortgage,  tor  instance,  of  your  Kensington  estate -not  a  mere  de- 
posit ot  the  deeds— wo  might  have  managed  it -on  terms— on  terms, 
my  lord.  Hut  just  now— capital  is  skitti.sh,  capital  is  very  skittish, 
my  lord — likeanails— everybody  drawing  in  his  horns.' 

"  ■  You  rather  mix  your  metaphors,  Mr,  Charley,'  1  said,  '  but 
1  understanil  you.  Well,  1  must  have  the  mouey.  1  will  grant  a 
mortgage  on  my  Kensington  estate.  But  it  is  a  complicated  affair; 
there  are  a  lot  of  long  leases  already  granted  to  builders,  and  new 
transactions  taking  place  every  week.  Only  Mr.  George  Bartou  is 
acquainted  with  the  details— he  has  the  entire  management  of  the 
property.  1  will  telegraph  to  him  to  come  up  at  once,'  and  1  took 
a  telegraph  form  to  write  the  telegram  immedialely— you  know  1 
am  rather  prompt  in  my  movements. 

"  1  don't  know  why,  but  1  remember  1  had  a  sort  of  impressioo 
that  Mr.  Pollard's  lace  turned  paler  at  that  moment.  lie  hastened 
to  interrupt  me. 

"'No,  my  lord,  that  is  not  advisable.  If  Mr.  Barton  is  intro- 
duced into  this  business  he  must  necessarily  be  intormid  of  all  the 
circumstances.  Believe  me,  it  is  not  your  lordship's  interest  .iust 
now  that  this  matter  should  go  beyond  ourselves.  Ihen,  my  lord, 
the  character  ot  our  Arm  isat  stake  in  this  matter.  We  can  not 
conceal  from  ourselves  that  this  has  been  a  very  awkward  anil  seri- 
ous oversight.  Allhough  we  are  advised  by  counsel  that  we  are  not 
in  any  way  liable  for  the  loss  which  has  occurred,  our  professional 
reputation  might  be  impugned— the  circumstances  would  be  mis- 
understood—i)erhap3  misrepresented— even  criminal  suspicions  ex- 
cited, to  which  we  should  be  very  sorry  to  see  any  one  in  .your  lord- 
ship's position  exposed,  and— in  fact,  my  lord— you  will  permit  me 
to  make  an  appeal  to  you— it  is  our  mutual  interest,  I  might  say, 
your  and  our  joint  and  several  interest— that— just  at  this  moment 
—your  ward  coming  of  age— a  great  event  in  .society— the  termina- 
tion of  one  ot  the  largest— quite  colo.ssal— administrations  it  has 
ever  been  our  lot  to  conduct— your  lordship's  brilliant  success  in 
discharging  the  grave  and  important  duties  of  guardian— great 
festivities  coming  on  —all  the  galaxy  ot  society  watching  the  event 
—it  is— 1  may  suggest— our  joint  and  several  interest,  that— at  all 
events  for  iheiiresent— this  little  matter  should  be  kept  between  our- 
selves—  sliould  lie  perdoo. ' 

"  '  This  little  matter,  as  you  call  it,  Mr.  Charles,'  1  aai.l, '  involves 
about  a  tenth  of  my  whole  fortune,  and  I  confess  1  don't  see  much 
Jn  what  you  say.    It  will  undoubtedly  l)e  very  disagreeable  for  me 


'i't. 
1-1 

'  ■!' 

;  i 
.■  \ 

B 

w 


:a 


•!.:v- 


A.    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 

ist ration  should  come  out  just  as  ^ •'"',';"  to  talk  about  conH- 

™  "oruy.     Barton.  l'"««J,«  '  ;^e    U^^^P"^^^^  ""^-"",'  '''' 

rte.  tial  business,  or  try  '"  3^°,/ce.  ij  Ihere  is  to  be  a  mnvlraire. 
inoucy-olUerwisclbciei^nortsouicu        ^  ,„in  you.  1  woul  I 

■^'Tt.^t£^^^  H^at'Thls  particnlar  .nou.cat;  i>ut  if 

!;!:^;';^au'^no\"«rt  m^  f'SSM^lS^  l^tic  iorwan..  and  loan- 
'  .'  •  ]Sly  lord.'  be  saul,  >»'^^j'"  .V,=,!i  "^^^  '  we  Imve  not  l)e(;n  so 
ins  over  towaid  me  In  'JJ""«/f„"/^  iS  as  vo"  im««ine.     We  have 

fidenlly  say  10  your  lordsuip,  wiu 

nresent  embarrassment.  p-n^rfl  that  is  koo^  n«ws;  -why  didn  t 

rrKingrgel  so-  unnemsnry  tr^^^^^^^^  ,„,,         , 

th^;  TetvTLSnroSn^^tl^o  legal  advisers  to  your  iordsh.p  . 
sister,  the  Countess  of  Tllb"jy-.  ^^^  j^^^^  ^^^  g„ia  anything 

"  '  Good  heavens!    l  crieu,     x      i    . 
about  tliis  to  the  countess!  ,      ^         experience  would 

•• '  li  is  not  likely,  my  lord,  ^  "|^P^°P'racter.    But  in  the  serious 
disclose  anything  of  a  <=«!"PJ«  "'«' e^nert  ?o  u    that,  without  being 

lo  give  us  time  to  look  about  us- 

'•1  Interrupted  him.  p-,,,,rd,'  1  cried.    *  1  do  not  wish  my 

word  then  1  must  inform  you  that  we  can  I  /     what  our 

rie  to  you..  But  T"- J^Jj^^'iVafe  b"n  down  L  Linton  and 
proposal  is.  1  VT^^ ,  „\  h  Ihe  has  expressed  her  readiness  to 
Li  r oif suSSS:  p^viS  ^oVlol^ship  gives  it  your  sane 

^'«.^•  And  What.  Mr  Pollard,  said  1  '  is  ^s  P-^CThtf  Ly 
"  •  My  lord,  1  explnmed  the  P°'JJ°°4^,;"obscfve.  a  very  general 
-huro-ha-in  tact  making,  as  >ouwu^  „nnecessary 

fit-  ement  of  the  actual  facts-whoui  emt  ,^^^  ^^jg^ 

detX  1  informed  her  l«^y«'"P  "i'^Vharces  abo  i  to  become  due 
for  a  large  sum  of  money  ^i^Sres  ^^ere  realized,  the  es- 
on  her  son's  esls^les-tli'*.  ""  '  ^f;^'^^^  ^  „t  a  very  great 

rrir;irhlK!-t  yTrVdluip  .m  observe,  is  str.ctly 

-l^.^*"lt^Vul?fe  Mr.  rollard.'  1  said,  '  it  you  added  that  the  cul'. 


1 
c 

( 
^ 
f 

c 
rj 

r 

B 

h 

S] 

If 

si 

8] 
U 
D 

■  h 
m 
h( 
hi 
si 
w 
fa 
sa 
ni 
bi 
nc 
ur 
is 
rei 
bo 

jfi 
an 
ist 

an< 

It 

pli 


ictol  themlinin- 
ot  my  mpliiiw'a 
alk  ftboul  contl- 
Rul— find  the 
obe  a  mnri rau'e. 
lilt  you,  1  would 
inoinciil;  but  if 

irwnnl,  and  lo"n- 
have  nol  been  so 
limine.  We  Imve 
tive,  and  1— with 
vhich— subject  ot 
tact,  1  may  con- 
rdsbip  lron»  your 

news;  -why  didn't 
lome  anxiety,  and 

•t ;  but  you  know 
lo  your  lordship'e 

not  said  anything 

experience  would 
liut  in  the  serious 
hat,  without  being 
client,  with  whose 
oually  acquainted, 
U8  to  raise  it— so  as 

'  1  do  not  wish  my 
ly  way.    You  may 

your  lordship's  last 
)e  of  any  further  as- 
ueard  yet  wiiat  our 
down  to  Liulon  and 
3d  her  readiness  to 
p  gives  it  your  sanc- 

irecious  proposal?' 
lountess  in  this  way 
uve,  a  very  general 
ncr  into  unnecessary 
jested  call  had  arisen 
1)0  t  to  become  due 
were  realized,  the  es- 
ccepl  nt  a  very  great 
I  observe,  is  strictly 

,u  added  that  the  cal'. 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


95 


had  arisen  upon  me,  llmt  it  was  1  who  could  not  furnish  the  nioiiev 
except  at  a  j,'re8t  sacrillc..'    So  you  see,  Hnrton.  I  was  quit"  a  % 
to  the  moral  phases  «t  .Mr.  Charles,  Pollard's  statements  to  n.y  s  s  er 
However,  iiu  avoided  argument  on  that  point. 

niiglt  take  some  time  to  realize  the  shares,  liiough  eveuluallv  Iho 

H. '.' .i'i'!r,'""."\  "T. '''!  '"'"^  ^'"'^  '°  '=°"'*'  '"-"f  '!"''  've  can  not  have 
the  slightest  doubt  since  you,  my  lord,  arc  respousiblu  for  it  1 
further  slated  that  you,  as  executor  of  the  estate,  would  bccon,u  re- 
siwnsil.le  for  the  large  sum  we  reiiuired,  if  she  would  advance  II  or 
help  U8  to  laise  il.  8he  might  give  a  charge  on  her  ii-o  interest  in 
L,niton  Grange-It  is  not  a  perfect  security,  but  wilii  het  known 
wealllj  and  yours  together  it  will  do-for  say  £50,000.  Then  she 
luis  ioo.OOO  in  Lnited  Stales  bouj.^  which  could  be  deposited  as 
[io  ''.r  i'mfnno''^  or  a  further  sum  of  toO.OOO,  and  she  has  iT.O.- 
00(»  or  tOO.OOO  on  deposit  at  Coults-s.  We  ventured  to  put  it  in  this 
way:  that,  as  you  had  lo  incur  the  primary  responsibllily  il  was 
only  tair  that  she  should  come  to  youi  assistance.  Meanwhile  ot 
course,  she  wouUl  enjoy  the  revenues,  and  have  interest  on  her 
money.  It  tins  could  be  arranged,  and  you  would  allow  us  lo  de- 
posit along  Willi  the  charge  on  Linton  your  lienslneton  deeds  as 
securiiy  tor  your  lordship's  bills  or  personal  bond,  we  know  a 
bank  which  will  advance  you  the  balance  ot  cash  required. ' 

•  1  was  very  much  startled,"  pursued  the  earl,  "  at  such  a  propo- 
sition as  tiiis-so  clearly  immoral,  notwithstanding  Mr.  Charles  Pol- 
lard  8  cunning  way  oi  pniting  ii-emanaling  from  a  firm  of  such 
standing,  and  it  ought  lo  have  put  me  on  my  guard.     Indeed    1 
showed  my  feeling,  and  put  a  veto  on  it  at  once,  althouj-h  ho  held 
under  my  nose  a  letter  from  the  countess  assenting  to  the  proposal 
^  molded  1  wrote  her  a  note  requesting  her  to  carry  it  out     1  sent 
him  away,  telling  him  he  nuiat  tind  some  other  way  of  raisimr  the 
money.     He  quietly  asked   me  to  think  it  over  tor  twenly-four 
hours,  no  doubt  expecting  that  during  that  time  the  devil  would 
have  a  chunce  at  me.     Alas!  he  was  right.     Instead  of  goinL'  to  mv 
818  er  and  le  ling  her  the  whole  story,  and  getting  her  sympathy  ai 
well  as  her  help.  1  allowed  myself  to  d..  an  acf  which  was  mean 
false,  and  despfcabie.    1  am  ashamed  to  say  1  wrote  lier  a  note' 
^"•^"5',  ,1  c"""!  «'J'ise  her  to  act  as  Pollard  &  Pollard  had  recom- 
inende.1,  thus  affecting  to  cheat  myself  by  throwing  the  responsi- 
bility on  them,  and  as  you  know,  lo  this  hour  the  countess  does 
riot  know  the  truth       The  only  security  she  has  is  my  personal 
underlakuig  which,  it  is  true,  fs  good  euough.  but  you  see  the  fact 
18  this-what  she  supposes  she  has  advanced  to  her  son's  estate  Is 
really  advanced  to  me-her  mortgage  and  bonds  and  money  have 
boeri  obtained  from  her  on  false  pretenses-pretenses  made  to  her 
jointly  by  her  brotlier  and  lier  solicitors,  both  ot  whom  are  equally 
ishrnrat  "    proce«ling8-an(l  equally  deserving  of  pun- 

.^A^  ^""^  not  describe  to  you-you  can  nol  imaglne-the  torture 
and  anguish  of  mind  1  have  endured  since  that  miserable  l)U8ine«8: 
It  IS  not  only  that  1  am  placed  at  the  mercy  ot  two  vulgar  accom- 
plices, it  IB  the  degradation  of  my  moral  dignity,  the  blotch  upon  a 


-SI.; 

71  i 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


90 

,Ul.er.ount«nu«hc.a  honor.  n«..  a  gnawiu«  .en.c  ot  the  hascncs. 

Cuoy  mul  boiHls  wore  to  ;^J;«,S\  i^^^;;^ l.anUe...  oltainc;}  a 
celi.t  tor  nuMii.  I  l"\^f,,'^"'^".'i  myself  to  the  crnlii  of  T.  - 
l„an  on  thom  nncl  rnul  l'''  ""*"'J„  "^"t.Vs  interest  w.ui  made  out. 
b„rvs  eslale.  »  "'; '"', ,  f  f m.  1  rXi'.nl  the  .Iced  in  n.y  own 
not-  to  a  ll'i"' r'^^^y- ,3  'J  „"'  -i,,.  it  ov'r  to.  ..ml  engaging  to  hold 
custody.  «*«-"\'"^"'  '''^'L^  .idvaiiced  the  money-a  nuserable. 
it  in  trust  for.  the  banu  ;^  ',  "{^waa  a  Scoleh  hank,  and  ac- 
contpHcaled  'i"ange.ne..t.  b^^  t  H^^^^^^^^  Kensingt.m  .leeds  as  well. 
ffi;i:\;'ri;:d  ^^rnyS^Jrc^rty  U.nn  hdng  attached  ex- 
-V^Stw^hat  follow..  The  dtar^e^n  ^^^3^^ 
^ns  pai<l  olT.     B«t  i"  ^Vy^^J^  «|   "a  ue  o    age      Pollard  &  I'ollard 

cotinis  were  not  r««'ly?^i'"^,V'lh  a  The  estates  were  so  inuncnsc 
cxcitsedlhemselyoBontheple      ha    tie  ",  ^^  ^vould  take 

and  the  "^^^r.wV.dl  h  'ml  r  Si^  o.^^  having  passed  witho.U 
months  10  get  them  all  '"  .'"'^!^^^^  '^j,,  ^^,^  u„aited.  1  became  anx- 
the  accounts  bemg  even  '*"!  ^  'le  e  low.  witli  all  his  aftectation 
ious.   Tilbury.  ^^' '" '^'>,     f";';';,Tling  "P.  lor  my  sake  as 

of  liiixi'n  olh'i',  also  wislieii  f  ^^^'"'  "^    =     „„  „„,!  jn  yonr  tather. 

Sell  as  hi,  own  /.J^X tonll^oulf  S asi-'l"  tale  .l?e  matter  in 
nnd  he  proposed  that  IJaiion  »""""'.  ,!v  „n  ti,p,  accounts  iis 
hand   and  with  the  h.ilp  ot  an  accc,  nUan^^  audU  aM  t^^      ^^  ^  ^^^^ 

Tmaiter  ot  'o-^/^.^iffX"  o"   omi;^   anct'hen.  for  the  first 
ninlit  auo  1  sent  tor  5 our    »J'^'^       '  .  ,1     wi,ole  biisiuess. 
time.  I'mbunlenedn^y  n      ltoh>^^^^^  V)oih  bv  my 

-'  Your  father  was  leinl>lj  Sf"-^V"  ' ,         toward  birn.    Clever- 
moral  weakness  and  ray  ^rfi*^.^Ss^^^ 
thcU-ss,  he  sbowei  "^ue  o.  tl  at    ugM  ^^,  .      ^f  n^e  delin- 

by  moralists  who  have  "«  <'':,^*'™  ^3e,  c  He  simplv  said  that 
qnenciesot  olhe.s  fro.n   hen    mn  em    c.i^^^^^^     «       ^j;,„     g^t  to 

,  ,e  Hitualion  must  be  c'l^.^f^./  '^,^  fheVcast  possible  sacrifice, 
^vovkto  n"^ll'^V'«''"«  "'  '^^^''^,  ov^L  ty  hould  be  released  at  any 
ne  insisted  t>-f /^f  ..^^o  "  '  '  S  al  o t  my  coal  and  iron  mines  to 
cost,  lie  depleted  H"'  "oa  ing  "''^'  '^ers  aiul  he  resolved  to  raise 
free  the  United  Staes  bonds  a   11^       "^^^^^^  mortgase  of  my 

a  large  loan.  «  "*> '  ^'^.^.f^l' [.r^  y  a  «  ^  the  great  con- 

Kaisington  estate,  tov  which  "''^^^«  y^'^'^,,^,%'^  ,iic  sale  of  the  Stock- 
tractors,  offered  me  *;340.000    Then  ot  cour  ^.^^^^  ^  j^^^^ 

ton  Ra  Iroad  shares  at  U^h  to  ^'"^"  "''j'     j,ii  scrutiny  of  the  ac- 

provided  £60.000.    Mf "'.!"{«  J^Ses   a"^  n  1  'ell  London  only 

,.       counts  and  revenues  of  T'  ^i  J  s  es  «i«s  ^  concluded 


ii 

V 

a 
G 

E 

IT 

y< 
y" 
cc 
tb 
to 
an 
ne 

Wi 
CO 

an 

CO 

vo 
tei 
cyi 
in^ 
qui 
Sel 
ton 
fri( 

OSS 

voii 
(I 

givi 
otr 
tna; 
pnsi 
mid 
F 
liisi 


r 


of  the  basencsg 

mbilitj'.  I  mnde 
igh  the  Toli'irda 
it  tbo  countess's 
g.ivc  my  own  re- 
iiUeis,  ()l)ti\incil  a 
liccmlii  of  Til- 
si  w(i8  mnde  out, 
deed  in  my  own 
cngnuiiig  >o  liold 
icy— ft  miserable, 
ich  bank,  and  nc- 
m  deeds  as  well, 
uing  altaclied  ex- 

[•ilbury's  property 
idniiniairatiou  ac- 
Polliinl  &  Pollard 
were  so  ininiense 
ml  it  would  take 
UK  passed  wilhoul 
I'd,  1  berame  anx- 
1  all  his  afleclntiou 
up,  lor  my  sake  as 
i»nd  in  your  father, 
take  Ibc  mailer  in 
all  the  accounts  iis 
refuse.     So  a  tort- 

I  then,  for  the  first 
iC  biisiuesa. 

nded,  both  by  my 
ward  birn.  Mevcr- 
y  which  is  assumed 
idging  of  the  delin- 
Irle  simply  said  that 
nd  manfully  set  to 
,t  possible  sacritlce. 

be  released  at  any 
al  and  iron  mines  to 
.  he  resolved  to  raise 

a  mortgage  of  my 
,vnns.  the  great  cou- 
lie  sale  of  the  Stock - 
d  risen,  would  have 
il  scrutiny  of  the  ac- 

II  Hell  Loudon,  only 
ad  nearly  concluded 
y  equivocal  position 
said  it  would  be  bau 
plure. 

Ill,  chagrin,  and  anx- 
ay  last,  expressly  to 


A    M'EEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


n 


tew  mmutes  the  scene  was  painful  enoi  L^ir  E^en'^  h  .Ta  J  ' 'I 
cynic  must  sometimes  yield  to  the  inornTfo  ces  wT.ich  wiih^l  "'^ 
ing  and  irresistible  attraction,  draw  Zvi^r  ll  he  ml    i, '  r'"""" 

S:-IV'  ^r^'  ""'  "'■J'"^^"^"  action  ,md  Z  t  th  was'hat  S 
Selby  s  cynicism  was  more  superHclal  than  nrofound     if  J^L  ?i 

"ies— yis-l  know  what  vou  would  say       /eO  fhp  nppr.  "  f^, 

max:    Believe  me.  1  did  not'S\?S  or'^ep  oach  Zn   *  lV  ii 

1,  JmTJ^*^  moment,  ns  George  narton  could  not  but  see  and  feel 
his  moral  position  vis-d-vis  the  earl  was  assured.    Young  as  he  wm. 


U<^- 


98 


WF.EK    01"    I'ABfllOX. 


% 


f  sion  lut.  Mhil.it.a  to  l.im  \.m  Y,  in  mTv'u  In  nnv.U  a  position 
fi  sironir  mmi  u'liinH  sticnvlH.  i'  "'""  "i  „n.l  immiroa-  lie  rose  to  tlio 
r,i.ii:l.t  ot  ti.e  trust  ^vl'l<■^• '»  '  ?" ,"',"  1  '.ler.^a  H'Vir  ri-lati<.i.».  and 

i;i;::u.^^.::ii:s,:;;';:unr;vn:';.a.i  ....n .« .ron,..n.,w,. 

SI  any  yon  .m;  y^:^^;;^  ^^^^t  vJ.nX  to  n.rry  ont  tlml 

^liS^,:;;  ^luimiyin.iei;'!:^^— t  with  ute  c^^^^^^^^ 

^'!?^;?,r !?££••  -If  ,?.;;r"y?-,ue  verity  yon  put  up  for 
■•  Vo.i  atr,"  siii.l  y;""f  ';',;"•  „   ."ry  .iiic><tionaM«  one  from  ft 
„,,  loan  tl.ey  '-I'talm"  fr  N  m  ^^«^   ^^  y.„U„«_i,ypotlu.railon  ot 
li.mliT-H  point  (.t    view.     l"'J">^'i  '  ;   ,  ciiarj-ing  it  over  wlille 

I  "ly  Tillnrys  lite  ^''-[f:, '"„  °  r't   U  yo"  ll'-^t"  llu'y  «l'o-ea  an 

;:.!;;;S.  S;^e;Sh  S-J^  "-y-  --  --^-^"^  "'"•^'^  "^ '°°' 

"'^C'Si-n.  neve.  ^J-.^I^.^J-;;^^;?^  ^^Ixl^^^S 
that.     1 .1.-1  n'^[.'>'f  ;;:'l"         '"^  Se  t betn^eWeB.  .f  possii.lc  Irom 

-  IITS-V^  iS^^^^kSTti:;  very  tin..henti.c.o 
"".'Uell,  1  bave  to  i"^'^"^"".  f  :.on  to  t^  ml  that  money,  tljeic 
people  were  pressinfi  .""\' X  cuOit  "t  tl  <•  Tilbnry  adnilnistral .on. 
ond.t  to  Imve  been  ly'"*?'''''''"  Vw.    m.uleil  tltousanil  pounds  more 

Ibem." 
"Good  God!  ,       ,-,  ,  iio  seen  yon  on 

..  Yes;  my  tather  tend  l.^^  «st  ™;i  y  m  of  this  momtrot.s 
that  tatal  ufternoon  ''«;{";;:  J;;:'-, '^ulTsesi^oundrels  -ere  .iv  ng 
and  damnaole  tact.  All  Hit  "'^;'  .  ,i  ^.,,3  „  matter  ot  life  and 
vou  so  iii'»'»'''"^'«'y-P''?Sn"\       ,0  join  them  inpractienRft 

the  American  railway  stocks. 


••  w'Jmi' "''si.ouVe«l  the  earl,  jnmpina  to  his  feet. 
.'  They  admitted  it  to  my  tather  on ^lon 


it  to  mv  tather  on  lUonday,  last  week." 


( 

c 

1: 

V 

s 

fl 

ll 

!■( 
ll 

nl 
t. 
iu 

all 

>V 

v.] 
in 
toi 
ve 
1\ 
toi 
till 
his 
aft 

JK'J 
Of 

Uur 
iou 
kee 
jecl 
tiflc 
trat 
Fail 
cert 

CUt( 


mmlt!  lilm  u  con- 
lllCTll  liii"  <>"  t*'*' 
11  ttiicli  a  poHltion 
vflops  Ills  Ueble- 
■fi»;  lie  rose  to  tlio 
(jinsctl  II)  pliu'c  in 
liclr  n-liHions,  niul 
)o  slrcmi;  iiml  w!i» 

»ct  j'ou  on  'Ilitira- 
'rcnltT  wicUcdiicM 
I  iisU  (li'l  it  "•'V'T 
•a  to  cnrrv  out  tlmt 
ouutfss  of  lilbury 

ty  yon  r»t  "P  '"^ 
loniiMn  one  from  ft 
—hvpolliiTiiiioii  01 
u.i'i'ng  it  over  while 
iiif  ihcy  showed  im 
menl  tnmle  by  hooK 

■  HTC  nrc  too  cool  for 
uriil  niixicty  to  help 
es,  if  i)098il)le,  from 

cry  llnic  when  these 
1(1  thut  money,  theie 
bury  iulinini«tf '*"""• 
Dusnnil  poiinda  more 
cr  revenues  collccteu 
rs,  and  never  piiid  m 
mlsnppropriated  hy 


Had  ho  seen  yon  on 
•oil  of  this  uionstrons 
■oimdrels  were  f-iving 
i  a  matter  ot  life  nnd 

(hem  in  praclicinR  ft  . 
jcen  lyini;  in  the  bimlc 
Iton  nnd  Eton-Marley. 
sure  the  ilelUtieucy  on 

feet. 

>',  lii8l  weelc. 
iced  me  ns  confldenily 
victims."  . 

face  flushing  witli  m- 
only  person  who  knew 


A    WKKK    OK    I'ASsiox. 


09 


intahiTM.'u  ''""'^•-■"  """"'""'■•  «"""''^"  tlK.  oarl..i„ki„K  down 

-0UBedin'i^otl:;;.fcil.:'^'">-   "•^"-■^-'"«  --l-'-o-  ""clle..^ 
out'this\w^l"Ml' If'  '"•'■  '"^'"''  "'""*•''"  "  "'Ivlsable  before  he  found 

mmsmsm 

mmmmm 


V  -.,,fciiSJ 


WKKK    or    PASSION-. 
,  iriinstft  lor  lho»u  sbiirciV 


Is 


•'  nitl  you  ever  hIh"  '^  i 

wl,o.  ll.r.f  veui'Hsn.c.'  Lout:  t^  executor   will,  u  Ohh  of 

,„.  ,,,.H.-u..>l  '''•'\,'''^''' V\ /;' r  wo       r  If  tro...  ll.iH  fuel  I  <  .u^v 
„viT  tl(lt>,tt"t'.     My  lor.l,  .1.  ><      wo.'  ^.i„j,.,,.H  I'olliir.l,  ii  larue 

Hn....l..i.>r  It  «ee..m  lu  H  i'^«  «'  •"^•'^  r,       hoe  .  ('....nl.t  '  hIutI    "t    •'«'» 

_•  l„„r..we.l    tlie...  Irou.  <■'";''',•   itl  I'UJjH'  »»""«>''  l»"'»' '"'^''^ 

"^?^;s:^^eriS^^;:p;^u...^^^ 

,H-er»  ...l..<l  fr'>"-  ''''VJ:;;!"';'\  ;S  ••  toUl  me  when  he  o.n.e  ho.no 
'  ..Myi>oorli.iher  >'«V,"  ,&^^^  He  sl.ouUl  have  said  ..olh- 
thai  he  ha.l  co...n..tlcd  ^  ^  '^'^  •;\f,  V„  Uent  his  .liBCOvery.  to  ho  .re- 
ins  ahout  the  n..itter:  '«  "  ,f ,  J"„  n,',a  ,  „,n  to  verily  the  Incts  hy 
;:t^:ie;;c^lothnSe;^n.lfor;l.e  company  in  Now  .orW.  Ln- 

^'''!!':';^ow  uTuXelo  mlnlcateB  are  dated  only  three  years  agoV 
llftB  the  earl  ever  tranHferred  the,../  ^^,^^^  ^.^  ^ut  him. 

Inal  prosecution '■•  m  im  struck  ofl  the  rolls— to  lose 

^"''..V,^  ,  eri...in.d  prosecuUon^^^^  «nd  broken  be- 

tho  greater  part  ot  their  loriuiii.    w 

vend  retlemplion.  u  shall  be  done!    1  will  give  you  lull 


t 

I 

r 

t 

0 

r. 


Pl 
k* 

of 
ca 
m 
th 
im 
po 
111. 
atl 
thi 

tO( 


t^'_ 


■c  tinnslurretl— in 
•  imiiHlcrH— Hoino 
iif  in  ilioNC  slmruH 
I  U!0  or  i;7t>.  iiml 

Dlll-y  OHllllH  III   C~<» 

or  Willi  "  l<i«-*"f 
lliiH  fuel  I  <lni*v 
H  I'dUiiril,  iilartfH 
^,  whiii  llK'.v  were 
I  •  Hliort '  ot  tlicm 
ivciuililH'm,  lt;i  ii« 
boii^lil  llu'iii  Imfk 
uol  to  rcMiiintl  y^u 

in.  "1  never  hi'uul 
chwikeil  hiiiiHt'lf, 

il  hU  voico  fi'll— 
Bhoulcl  ciwl  sloues 

10  true,  fliic  temper 
wn  ttiiilt,  uml  llio 
;urtot\'H  lieiirt  wiis 
.•iilclied  the  ctuuliil 
(uglil  to  iliverttho 

phen  he  ciwne  homo 
itiKl  have  said  uolh- 

iliscovery,  to  ho  re- 
)  verily  tlie  incts  l)y 

In  New  York.  Un- 

nly  llireu  years  ago? 

aione  was  wilt  him. 

ny  made  a  new  issue 
tor  these.' 

sv  pretext.  A  scene 
I  as  called  in.  joined, 
her  with  proceedings 
er  an  aj^iioted  inier- 
to  Uie  bottom.  You 
Tlivirsilay  atternoon, 

are  subject  to  a  crlm- 

ott  the  rolls— to  lose 
»nored  and  broken  be- 

1  will  give  you  tuH 

iiel" 


A     WKKK     OK     I'AS.SION. 


101 


OeorKO  Iliirton  honjtdleil  a  iiiomint.  lie  did  not  like  lo  remind 
t  i(^  eurl  iiKUin  of  his  own  ((.mprDiiiis.Ml  HJtiialion.  of  tli<-  iliMcloHurest 
that  miiNt  lie  111.'  Iiieviiiihle  conwiiuence  of  a  pr<»ieciillon  of  Iheso 
men.  I  lint  ilioiiKJit  wiis  never  alment  from  llie  vouiitr  iiian'N  min.l 
It  wiiH  vvel-hlMK  upon  it  like  a  niKlitniare.  jimti,,,  t,,  ii„.  ^md 
would  ilr.iK  down  ••onMe.|uenceH  on  tlie  head.s  ol  the  liviiiK-on  thig 
nobleman,  become  in  one  short  dnv  his  friend-aml  on  oiIutm  at 
whos,,  s()rrr)w  and  dishonor  (JeorKit's  heart  woui.l  l)leed  to  .inuli  ' 

Me  pointed  out  to  Ihe  Kail  ot  tselliy  how  precarious  the  position 
WMH  In  which  lie  stood,  and  how  slron^ly  imrenched  was  tlio  posl- 
toil  of  th,.  ..neii.y.  My  tlie  ..Ider  llHrlon's  .leatii,  the  onlv  wilness 
besides  the  eMrl  Idiuself,  wlu,  was  tainted  l)v  eompilcllV  In  ono 
rraudulent  iransHciion,  was  loreviT  silenced.  'I lie  teeeli.t  lor  th» 
moritcapes.  the  bonds    was  d  .stroye.l.      These  documen  s  were  in 

celved  li.em  Itwas  clear  that  lluiy  meant  to  destroy  ihem  or  keen 
nom  out  of  the  way.  Lasdy,  tliey  still  had  the  earl  under  their 
.  !1"'.'  ,V  '/'•'*;''•  ?P'';  '•«'"P''-'"^^I.V  than  ever.  Tliey  had  Ins  KenninK- 
ton  ithMireds  his  bon.l  for  t7r,,()00;  and  as 'solicitors  IVr  Iho 
.In  ^"^■'^'  "'/•^.  they  coul.l  compel  the  earl  to  make  restltn 
tlon  of  the  Lnlled  States  bonds  which  had  disappeared. 

ar'n.^\'K  *''''•'''/''"  *"'''•  "  «l"'  H"'  Collateral  evidence  which  voii 
are  nl)le  to  supply  we  can  soon  prove  the  facts'"  ^ 

"  That  is  very  doubtful.  Aflne  is  oidy  hearsay  evidence  Re- 
mendjer  my  lord,  tliHtly.  that  they  ,ire  un.ler  the  inipressioMlml « 
k..owle.tKc  of  these  facts  was  confined  to  ti.emselve.s  yo       „    mv 

„„''  i,"*'''  "'•'"»  '■^'■^  tnornin«."saiil  the  earl.  bitinL'  his  lip  at  tl...  roc 
elect  on   of  the  fatal  mistake  be  had    uncoi.seiouslv  co  .     itcd 
reii'lJt.*"  "  ""''"  '^'^'luainted  with  all  the  facts.  nn<l  had  a  copy  of  iho 

llT  Vori-sJ'fZr^^^yroS..-"^  ^"'^-  was-wasput^:;tttlS 

•''Perfectly.- 
«J1VV  fPe  ">nt  men  in  the  critical  position  In  which  they  wpre 
placed,  believ  ng  tlint  Geofgo  Barton  was  the  only  man  who  k^ev^ 
ke'pslnu-'-  '"''""'  "'^^'""^  '"^^  l.clieve.1  the?  could 

The  earl  started,  George  Barton  paused.  He  saw  n  vivid  flash 
of  lluminaiioii  pass  over  the  earl's  face.  In  ir  dh  llie  earl  had  re- 
callec  tlie  circumstances  of  his  interview  with  the  solicitors  in  fho 
morn  nir— their  strange  hints  and  their  mysterious  manner.  Hart 
they  then  meant  him  to  understand  that  he  and  they  were  equally 
interested  In  the  closing  of  (jeorge  Barton's  mouth  forever?  Was  it 
possible  that  having  made  him.  the  earl,  n  principal  iu  a  misde- 
meanor, they  had  thought  of  trapping  him  into  becomintr  an  accessory 
after  the  fact  to  a  tt-lony?  lie  could  hardly  think  it,  but,  if  so 
thank  lleavcn  they  had  failed.  His  language  and  bearing  had  beeii 
too  candid  for  them!  " 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION 


said  George,  wbo  i.ad  been 


102 

"  Had  uuytliius  occurred  to  you'; 

waitini;  tor  tl.e  '-'o'V"  ;'!^':  J; ,  ^an  r»ol  l.cli.-^e  it  to  be  more  than  a 
••  Yes.  a  cuiious  lilea;  but  1  can  "  '       .       „     particulnrs  at  the 

suspicion.     Do  5"" '^':rV*';; i.^'^on  ii^'   ^«eem  to  bavo  n  sort  ot 

lutcrview  1  bail  wi  b  tbe m  '>''«  "°^'  '  f, ,  verge  of  making  me  some 
eclin.i^  tbal .  botb  tbe  1^!    "  \'',,^,(.'^,i,  ,a,  possibly  onv b^S  to^^,^. 

iiupoilaiil  disclosure,  nn  ''>''" ;''^>  ;;*,.,,  ,v,i3  very  severe  aud  Oetlant? 

t  i ng  1  said,  or  to  my  ""V,""^,'',?'  .'  (  •  i  m-ais  to  l)e  only  an  impres- 
i  "  Wby,"  said  George   birioi,      it  iWf,       „,e^,  ,„Hy  have  been 

sion  you'bave.  bu,  il  is  -P'-' ,  ',  ^V^^ ^  statL>ent  Ibat  1  Nvas 
]  alarmed  and  put  upon  tliei_i_  h'l'^ra     i  i 

\^    .  "^^V'SSlli? '^S  tbetrl.  ^via>  a  puz.led  expression.        i^ow  ■ 

ever,  1  interrupted  you.'  j      conceivable  tbat,  wl>eu 

r  '^  •  •  i  vNas  8in>ply  Si"<"S  »«  ^«^'^,^  '^_J\;ie\  tbougbl  tliey  bad  only  my 

br;  ihey  «ere  llw'ealened  w>     i^l^^o  ^g^  susp.cion-be  may 

t*  •fiitlipr  nno  you  lo  n-in,  •>'"•  ,        ,, 

■  Vnr  wisb  IK  bim  out  ot  llie  way.  j^  ^ould  bave 

^°^.  yS^  8^  you  .nnst  l> V  |«  j^f^S^  ^  ^ wbal  bad  t>.ken  place. 

''  l„>en  to-day  ba-l  1  been  totally  'g""'  *""'  .    ^„  ,„..  fatUer's  liceping. 

i  You   °^^  i^-l»''^'«^^  "T  Kbn      1  coubl  bave  told  you  notbing 

exp«  enc«J.  ^°  ^«J«^^ '"'  '  Wiih  tbe  securities  tbere  was  still  open 
^  ?•  But  tbal  be  bad  g"ne  ofl  w  tb  tbe  ^cc  r        ^^^^,^.^^,^,_  ^^^  robbed 

tbe  Ibeory  tlnvl  my  fatlK-r  ^;" .  ^f  "J"^/,  ^'^^'a^e  1  onds  in  bis  po«s«B«}0"; 

r     '  LmiM  bave  been  made  m  dvie  I""*;  .^^.V,  "  gyer  learning  anytbmg 

'  dmnces  w^<'  a  tbousand  to  one  aga.nj    our.ever ^^^.^  ^ 

a  out  the  dates  ot  tbe  los  o"^^.-^^  easily  bave  tbrown  dust  m 
tJelsappropriated  money,  tj  :>^^'=X  V^j  i''''}'''\  ""^  '^torl 
-  vour  eyes  by  recasting  *''.';,";;',, oUcinr  to  audit  tbem,  wbo,  tor  a 
some  new  accounf'nt  or  ^ <^''' )%f °  ,  ,' I  tbe  accounts  were  correct 
handson^^B  bribe,  and  being  «^.''  ""^^f  4a„ased  to  cover  up  tbeir 
In  f^cl  tboiigb  not  in  form,  ^o^],V,nr«  ot  tbe  United  Slates  bonds 
lron"-doin|.  Lastly,  tbe  ".""'^"^/^  decent  delay  a  dirty  parcel 
^•o°nd  bave  been  advertised,  and  atler  a  uecc  .^^  ,,^^ 

M'ou  d  bave  been  tbrown  into  J"  l;/'^'^^'^" .     Tbiis  everytbing  un^ 


J 
t 

1 

s 

)l 
a 

y 

o 
a 
b 
P' 

di 

C.'l 
or 
o\ 


P< 
tic 
th 

cy 

ca 

W( 

Le 

pli 
da; 
plii 
ad  I 
grt 
Is 

if  J 

.yoi 
yoi 
eve 
yci 
A 
tor 
Hai 
son 


.,  who  i.ad  been 

I  be  more  than  a 
lixiliculnrs  Dt  the 
10  have  ft  sort  ot 
uiakini;  me  some 
lyowiiig  tosome- 
ereamlrteniml?" 
s  only  nu  impres- 
^T  1,1  uy  have  been 
Biuent  Umt  1  was 


jres-sion. 


"  llow- 


ivtible  that,  when 
tlu'V  had  only  my 
suspicion— he  may 

Bad  as  they  are,  1 
till,  us  you  say,  u 
10  strongest,  leasous 

us  it  would  have 
I  hud  taken  place. 
ly  father's  Ueeping. 
'  told  you  nothing 
sense  and  generous 
vou,  as  soon  as  you 
iiu  which  you  had 

there  was  still  open 
urderod,  and  robbed 
as  in  his  possession 
,  Pollurd  &  Pollard 
L  had  perished  with 
10,  evidence  of  their 
)retexl  or  other,  and 
Qg  there,  application 
certilicales,  and  the 
rer  learning  anything 
■cl  their  rcBtilulioa  ot 
have  thrown  dust  in 
ssibly  by  suggesting 
idit  them,  who,  tor  a 
ccounts  were  correct 
,red  to  cover  up  their 
I'nited  Slates  bonds 
t  delay  a  dirty  parcel 
sent  you  by  post,  ana 
Thus  everything  un- 
would  have  rendered 
latsing  the  money  tor 
titude  tor  that,  as  well 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION, 


103 


uU^Zf  Thol"wl,'i7"'"T'''''''^"^  keeping  a  certain  Iransnc- 
^ionld  Imvp    nX  n>      '  '"""-'  '"''"'  Tr"'">«»  your  solicitors,  nnd 
Z     l,       ^, '""'  ""-  ">n"»gcment  of  your  erlutes      Tiiio    1  sav 
woulc    ,„  n  1  prolmbilitK  have  been  the  Mtnat-o  ,  i    my    .ti.er  hiul 
not.Jhrough  some  providential   premonition,  made  ml  his  con fl 

«wl!f  ?■■•  ^'^^■'^'^  "^  '^^■"'■«''  "'"■»«"  ^ill'  astonishment  as  i.Mhua 

fheZrcler      '"        ''""'''''^'"'  '^  ""^^  ''''^  '"«  s'^Uy  auihors  of 

ocen  8t  their  elhows  overhcannit  the  r  plans,  your  sketch  of  ilpm 
seems  so  liorribly  like  a  pift.ire  from  lifel" 

3  on  see  the  mode  of  death  selcoKd-suggcsted,  no  drul.lv  rrrinV 
o|.t,ages-was  one  that  almost  cerlainly  ass   red    the     cs  ruction 
along  w.lL  the  individual,  not  only  of  evi-ry  means  o   identiflca  on' 
b..u..every,hu.g  in  the  nature  of\.v:dene'e  wbic^^^ 

diabnIicV'"'  ''  •°^°""*^'»l^"^-it  18  horrible-it  is  nnnalural-it  is 

"  Kpithets.  my  lord,  which,  in  a  /rrcutcr  or  less  de-ree  are  nnnll 
c,.ble  to  every  crime  by  ^vhich  a  huninn  life  is  sacrificed'     GraS 

over  tt  ;;;:!:S"'"  '"-'  "'""'  '''  ^"•"'""'  '^"'  -^3'  rartly^esS 

;;  (lave  you  confided  your  suspicio  ,8  to  the  police?" 
j.w  V  .  ^  "°>  convinced  that  that  would  be  the  wav  in 

purchase  immunity  from  punishment  in  this  case      Jf  nn  «nnnn,i 
ions  be  correct,  the  Kuilty  parties  would  no   hSteto  Ir v^and  bHh« 
ivf./nfT' ■"'•,'•";  •'«-'  Detective  Department  !o Throw  ausl  in      | 

r.^r^^.^:rt  ha^rijrrx  Svi^t'S.^  ^  £ 

day.  under  the  most,  tryiilg  circnmstancTs  InThicH  mm  waTeS 
placed,  as  possessed  of  qualities  ot  head  and  heart  nliicl   I  .nvv  n.ul 
admire-and  to  me  personally  you  have  exhibit""  a  cc  lerosilv  «  rt  - 
greatness  of  mind  which  place  me  under  oblig  t Is  to    ou    ,^c"  as 

torn  ''•"-'  •"•"'  H""ed  these  words  with  an  emotion  which  vouched 

Sa.  .'f.l'p'n'f' ^^'  *  ''[""S"  "S»"  «'«'"'""'  i°  George  arU)n\se^^^^^^ 
Had  the  earl  known  what  daring  ambitions  were  blazing  in  his  /o.l' 
son  8  mm.1  and  pulsating  in  hishea.t.  what  hopes  1  s\o,  s  fe  o 


.S-(,4-- 


*;(*• 


104 


WKtK    01'     PASSION'. 


I-. 


204  A     \m:.i^'^     ^^     

uudur  the  sense  ot  1' *  «' ''.f  \'^"  [".'^V  ot  all  U>e  perils  which  sur- 
le.ul  hi.n  a  strong  ham  '»  ^t^.^^'Sasu-crt  liis  words  tnore  care- 
rouiKled  him,  ^V'"'' ,^"  ",l,^'''tvinK  'lie  .lightest  el>cou^.^renH■nt 

relation^  Willi  rollardcVloUautuot^P  ^^  ^^^       agcul.was 

he  eiiterlaineU  «"«'''^:^''"f.^"Vo  k  »ml  gel  the  dates  ot  the  iransters 
to  be  sflecteo  to  ^o  to  Isew  ^^^'^  '  "'\,%g_ot  the  Stockton  lailway 
!!and.  it  r^''^'iou'w>^'''c'os'l    t"hmd  George  suggested  that  Le 

CIIAPTEU  X. 

Tnorc.trrs  or  A  socnm- BnixE. 

WKHH 1  a  woman  1  mi.,l.t  lY^tendto  kno.  som^^^^^ 
aJsfnner  lite  and  egoism  and  mojmentsof^^^^^^^^^  .^^^  ^^^^ 
which,  ns  my  Kh'SB  m.sh    oul     too^ea   y^  ^.^  ^vitherh.g  pencil 
Time  had  hesiun  to  touch  here  »>i''  ^"V'r  „.„,„orie9  of  passions,  like 
S;  heart  might  be  still ''""«  ro""d  w  Uh  m  JJ'^  ^^^  ^,^  torth 

^ded  tapestries,  whereon  the  ou "'"^^  °  jj  .^j  .^ere  once  so  bright 
distinct,  though  Uie  colors  and  IK  trans        ^^  ^^^^^^,^  ^^ 

and  so  vivid  were  S9"«-.^,"'J^^,ut8  and  feelings  which  people  tl^ 
what  would  ^«/lV«  ^l°i°*,i^er  be  le  of  the  sealon.rich,  worsb.ped 
mind  and  heart  ot  a,^'^''',^'^^'^,,,^  thousand  petty  intrigues,  of  re- 
flattered,  pursued,  the  "  3':«\«„'„i'^,1T^^^^^^  ^'^V'.^i*  "^It 
furbished  passions  a«^V    li  iH^n.s   the  product  of  the  highest  art 
ot  traineit  and  cou^:;"^,;""tS  ^"gow'h  in  artificial  lemperatures 
ot  civilization,  and  ot  hot-bouse  M»                 ^t  tint,  reared  in  the 
Cuiious  in  elegance  of  ."•'"Xl''  Society,'  exhibiting  vaiiet.es 
tropical  air  ot  the  glass  lio"8«^"'  I'l^iuve  »nd  cunningly  developed 
of  chaiacteror  «™^th  unknown  to  i^^au^^^^^^^       civilized  cuU»^«  be- 
by  human  ««ifice-otten  do  these  pnMtuc^  ^^^  somel  mes  see 
come  strange,  bizarre   ^^""^X,!  the  rude  anatomists  o    the 
from  the  current  social  ^^"^,"^10  pieces  and  expose  their  struct^ 
Divorce  Court  pick  the  tail  Plauts  to  ,^             ^^  these  aristocratic 

ure  to  vulgar  gaze.    Tuinkmg  oyer  lu  strange  thing  for 

p  ants.  1  bave  otten  .po'^'^^Sl  te  o  ee  hat  it  is  shut^n  from  the 
the  young  heart  bursting  wihite  to  tern  t^        ^^^^^^  sunshine:  that 

wide  air  and  ^^^^TTn^ShSwrnd  splendid,  is  measurable 
the  spare  Jlotted  to  »V  ^^""Lmfot  an  illimitaWe  horizon,  boiy.e- 
by  inches,  and  not  by  the  expansic^n^^^^^^^  ^,    ,ler 

Umes  it  may  be  the  rep  essed    e^^^  ^j  „;^.  sky   which 

f.»  healthy  1  ghl  ""^Vr  vp  s  to  i,."h  omi  with  a  rank  luxuriance- 
causes  them  lu  nuuuier  jeais  10  i- 


( 

1 
1 
I 
c 

t 

b 

6 

b 

S( 

t( 
t( 

P 
di 
tc 

qi 

tL 
w 

80 

m 
w: 

W( 

th 
it, 
he 
wl 

^, 
coi 


A    AVKEK    OF    PASSION. 


105 


if 


ses  ot  his  untuTC 
bus  slnrted  up  to 
perils  which  sur- 
voids  more  cnre- 
it  encouiui^ciiH'nt 
latelu)  expansion 
ir's  heart  a  deeper 
ed  ot,  auil  justity 

broke  up.  Geor(;e 
louhl  continue  his 
1  any  inliling  that 
L  secret  ageul.was 
us  ot  the  transfers 
Stockton  1  ail  way 
suggested  that  Le 
t  direction. 


metbinp  ot  a  wom- 
eprt.  With  a  tace 
>w  me,  old  Father 
is  withering  pencil, 
•ies  of  passions,  like 

figures  stood  torth 
ve°e  once  so  bright 

unable  to  conceive 
.8  which  people  the 
son,  rich,  worshiped, 
■tty  intrigues,  of  re- 
it  up  within  a  circle 
!t  of  the  highest  art 
icial  temperatures, 
it  tint,  reared  in  the 
■  exhibiting  vaiieties 

cunningly  developed 

civilized  culture  bc- 
;  may  sometimes  see 
ide  anatomists  ot  the 
id  expose  their  struct 

ot  these  aristocratic 
,e  a  strange  thing  for 
it  is  shut  in  from  the 

outer  sunshine:  that 
ilendid,  is  measurable 
litable  horizon.  Son.e- 
,se  young  hearts  alter 

the  open  sliv.  whicU 
[ill  rank  luxuriance - 


like  those  irreat  palms  at  Tvew-until  thev  can  no  longer  be  re- 
coXi.''  '  '^'  "■^'""'  ''°'"'  '"  wLieii- their  first  gmwlh  was 
j.n^!"?^  Rliinche  was  rather  nn  exceptional  society  belle,  and  per- 
tfn.^Tn  n'"'"  "^  "'«.»'""'■'''  "f  tlio««  sub-iropieai  plants  vl"-h  are 
K^oTa  r'ou.irnn'[''''r'^'''  !^"'"'""'  ,i<-HlouHly 'from  the  vieiss' 

Dknt  bnM,',  ?  1  "  ''">'""■  '''"?'"''■•  •"^'"''  '^"«  ""  "i*-'"  sensitive 
plant,  but  h-i  1  a  vigor  and  expansion  all  lier  own.     Her  mind  n-as 

strong  enouirh  to  reject,  and  even  to  de.pise.  some  of  the  pei  dices 

nf,>,f  IrL  •  M  ?  7'"""'°  precociously,  as  all  lui.nnn  vegetables 
K,lnTJ"  '"'\'"''«'"."<»'i<'  «oiI.  l)ut  her  mother's  enilient  effort 
had  been  to  imbue  h-r  mind  witli  tiie  idea  that  woman's  spliere  was 

bimea  of  human  grandeur  and  distinction-intellectual  eminence 
oftyand  noble  ambit  ions,  influences  on  the  sncieiv  in  whici^  s^fe 
l.veil,  which  niiuht  pos.il.ly  extend  far  on  into  thb    utiue  o    he? 
own  race  and  of  the  world  at  lar^e 

AVhcn  the  (  oimless  ot  Selby"  who  was  herself  a  noble  and  re- 

Xr"nf'  m""""'--  ^"*^  ""^  '•""'  "'  her  young  dau«iitcr  bvspeiki  ,t 
to  her  of  tho.^0  virtumis  ,  ;ul  lofty  beings  who.  endowed  willi  1  e 
graces  of  feminine  beauty  and  with  the^lelicnte  f  rame  and    'ent  e 

noten  fnfl":^  "'"  ^^''•/'"'^  ^T  '"ft  a  luminous  trail  ot  iSed  and 
potent  influences  on  the  world,  slie  had  been  careful  to  point  on    to 

nr.    ™l'V'i'^"'''.i'"°'V  °*  "^"'"^  «'«»'  ^«'"'«1«  cimracfers  tho  igb 
born  to  social  distinct  on,  had  not  been  spoiled  hythecornii  tin-  irs 

Thev'lm^i'."."^  T-  ''i'y,  ^'.?  *'^"r«*  ^^  '^  conventional  dfa 
tKrilii,  <''V'">^'P»t«=''      themselves  in  a  lar  different  sense  from 
h  ",^rf  f    "'''^^  "'''  '^™  '*  "°^  "»«'  ^y  the  ancient  and  hag"ard 
high^priestesses  ot  «  new  cult,  called  "  women's  rights."   They  had 

«^rv3rih„T;  7y^K  •"?' '  ^'"'!^  Srea*-  ""f*  powerful,  because  they  pre- 
served  their  delicate  feminine  individuality,  their  woman's  cha?ac- 
tenstics  and  relations  to  family  and  socii  y,  and  precisely  those 

S,?r?.l'^?P'"'^''°Vl"?"'''«  ^^'l^'^'' ''  '«  the  custom  of  the  modera 
ph  losoph  c  harpies  to  denounce;    and  the  countess   showed    her 

to  dfteet'„;,f'iT  '^"^  S"^',"  '^lary-who  alone  had  the  intebgence 
r.nS=  ^V^' .«°=«"">g.e  «P<1  treasure  in  her  infant  son  those  innate 
qualities  of  divine  aspiration  which  raise  a  man  up  to  be  a  star  in 
he  firmament  of  intelligence,  shining  far  above  the  vuWr  crowS 
who  gdze  with  gaping  wonder,  at  His  glory-do«rn  tliroSi  aH  t he 
«S!?«°^  ^H  ?^  ?•"  "«Y«''«P"'ent.  every  era  had  had  its  Zneu  of  grea? 
souls  and  biilhant  intellects,  creating,  developing,  cultivating^am 
mu  tplymg  around  them  some  of  the  noblest  of  thoL  Eences 
which  were  elevating  and  purifying  the  race.  The  countess  nde^ 
was  considered  by  some  ot  l.er  frilnds  to  be  ratLr  "  Sf'' S 
they  of  course  attributed  it.  like  the  word  by  Rl.ich  they  expressed 

wlfinifi  iT"*  '^*'  more  rigid  and  commonplace  system  ot  educatioa 
Inf.  ''^^  ^''•^P  P"""'""^  ^y  »  ^"'•^sot  instiuclresses,  more  or  less 
penet  ated  with  conventional  ideas,  had  not  effaced  from  Lad? 
Blanche  s  mind  the  influence  of  her  mother's  words.  One  of  the 
countess's  sayings  Lady  Blanche  had  never  forgotten.    It  was  thiv 


'km 


-Q,.  .        A    WEEK    OF     I'ASSIOK. 

.:k,,,,  v~..  .»n  .r,.M.  ..^  i;n^,::ui;'|:S^^rrrffi 

vith  ll>L-  pure,  clear  tboimhls  of   '  «  "''^  '^    ,^,^„e  i.ave  the  right  to 

noideclino.l  to  allow  her  r''/«"\«J^?/' ^^e  she  had  discovered  i a 
loaweiiUhy  and  "^0^""* ''^'^  v'«i  ifher  own?  True,  the sacnOce 
ids  son  qualities  more  m  1""^'""^  ^^  J'  ^'Jall  is  not  oile«  Umt  the 
she  had  made  was  uo  very  great  «»^-  ""^^^q,^.  ualauctd:  but  she 
nlternatives  presented  to  a  7™"°  ''^^ar to  surfer  lor  asserlmR  the 
Lad  at  all  events,  know.  ^^^ '»' '  'l"'  ,voman-the  riiiht  lo  con- 
right  which  she  had  ^f  >'";"f''J°  ,f;^^  "Hence  it  was  that  she 
B  der  and  to  treat  her  hear  as  ^^  J^)^'^.^^,,  ^i,^  threw  her  po«x'r- 
created  some  perturbation  m     SociU)  „„,„.i,.ge  ol  one  o     he 

iul  intluence  into  the  scale  "^^^^'f^l^,  „  p„or  but  ptomismg 
wealthiest  Heiresses  ot  the  f.'fo^^^/.f  ^,,e  Foreign  Embassies  in 
voSg  diplomatist,  an  "^''J^^'^f^.^rwa  d  v-„„,pha'utlv  vindicated 
London.     In  that  case  she  ^ ''«  *^  ,''«'r,:ii,i,,„t  eirc  e  oi  advisers  1o  .me 
ruhe  is  now  one  ot  the  s"*""  "°  Vu  o  e    but  she  would  have  de- 

her  chivalrous  interlerence         „^„m„,,ip  duchesses,  marchionesses, 
golhat.'perhaps-torgiveme.mosium)"  "  .       ,„  g^iyi_ 

C0unlesses%nd  ladies  "^J^Jfy.^*  S,'^  an  than  t*lios.rother  fresh 
l,aav  blanche,  being  a  good  de.il  »""^^  ","i,,:ii„„_iiu.e  Leigh  .m's  or 
ffilies  who  com*^  "P  Te  mrSe  'ble  o  read  and  unUtand  a 
Millais's  new  pictures— one  maj  "';»"''''  „„.,ioiu  the  workings  ot 
K  more  of  !.«  licart  Ibau  he  «»«  J  '^'lich  jSisystem  of  educa- 
the  curious,  coinphcatw    watch-worK  wm      i  ^^^^^ 

tiou  too  trequently  substitutes  for  n^)» J?  , °f ^-g  ^aii  always  a  dreary 
^^Tlds  young  lady.  y^^r'^F^JZ^'^ZSSy^^^^^    comparatively 
affair  and  therefore  termuiatlng  Pf«r    f  "J'-'^^^.^  ^tt  all  her  robes  of 
larlv  hour  ot  two  in  the  morning,  has  thio^^^^^ 
Mnsequence,  has  endued  herself.  "«  ^^^o"\S^f cool  garment  a  soft. 
rSe  lin^n.  and  l^'^'t;!  Srse^her  ^id      'nstead,  then,  of 
white  robe  of  cashmeie.  I'  « ^-^'^^  '^eh  her  eyes  testify  that  she  is 
going  to  bed  and  seekmg  "'"  "J^^^'erselt  back  on  a  long,  low 
Badlv  in  want  of,  she  has  ^'^™'^."r  "»  ,in  under  her  robe,  reposed 
uxmious  chair  and.  curling  her    ^^^  ^^^Xh  are  clasped  behind 
her  finely-shaped  head  on  !»«'  \Yp_eTilh  some  coutidence,  for  he  is 

"x ...» look.  «'."i*. tssrei'^T.'ii.'  sr^.S's 

i,re  in  repose,  bul  to  ««  »I>1'™.' '!  °  1„  uuick  and  turUvo  move- 
tK  ri  £r.K  .S?Ar.ra,ag  .0  Lad,  TU.ur,.  .Ue 


1 
t 

\ 
J 

n 

!l 

1 

li 
li 

Si 

o 

a 
u 
li 
a  I 
fi 
hi 
a( 
w 
fl( 
as 
ro 
th 
be 
ac 
ar 
or 


k 


^^-«;.r^--- 


1 


nit  it  conalanlly 
;lind,  1x1)0 ve  e\\, 
liavu  the  ri^bl  to 
ure  ot  wliicU  you 

,hegm?    Had  she 
heart  and  person 
had  discovered  in 
True,  the  sacriUce 
not  ol lea  that  the 
balaut-td;  but  she 
lor  asserliuK  the 
—the  risiht  to  con- 
ice  it  was  that  she 
u  threw  her  power- 
fiiige  ol  one  of  the 
oor  but  pioinising 
iei"n  Embassies  in 
)hautlv  vindicated, 
eoi  advisers  1o  one 
ihe  would  have  de- 
in  a  lower  rank  ot 
loved  him.  that  he 
i  enough  to  prou.pt 

sses,  marchionesses, 
urn  going  to  say'.— 
mn  those  other  fresh 
-like  Leitil.  lu's  or 
d  and  understand  a 
lain  the  workings  ot 
ur  system  of  educa- 
and  blood, 
ball,  always  a  dreary 
It  the  comparatively 
1  ott  all  her  robes  of 
r  purity,  in  the  nncst 
cool  garment  a  sett, 
d     Instead,  then,  of 
.-es  testify  that  she  is 
ack  on  a  long,  low, 
lur  her  robe,  reposed 
:h  ure  clasped  behind 
.  couhdence,  lor  be  is 
tresh,  young,  human 

t  now  all  her  featmes 
Ihat  is  to  say,  there  is 
ck  and  iurtive  move- 
clear  pool,  a  flash  now 

destitute  ot  emotions, 
to  Lady  Tilbury,  the 


A    AVKEK    OF    I'.A.SSION. 


lor 


reco  loclion  ot  which  called  up  a  little  rose-cdor  in  La.ly  Blnnchc's 

her  n.ollR.r  in  Us  ffraver  and  tenderer  mo.nenls.     It  nciilled  i/er 
M,'    :''L'.''"[''fl  ^^'''c''  '"y  tl'«re  locltal  up  in  U.e  silver "ispt" 
dmry  on   ur  able  as  written  down  by  herself  years  ,^o  u.  he    own 
strong,  clear  handwriting,  every  letter  and  stroke  and  dot  of  wh  ch 
before  ;r     "'  ""'•'°''  '"  ''''  '''"  "«  '^  '^'^  P"««  ^-"«  ly-i  clpeS 
coiSnFdfv'nn.  ^rT-ir'''''''^"-""''  gonerous  moment  toward  her 
remikiiDlc  words?     Ikr     heart  was  her  own, "but  her  mother  had 
never  meant  to  suggest  that  she  should  «o  and  throw  ft  a  v.%  in  a  fi 
ilP"T7''^;  '"•'''''^'''"  "»'''«■    1'  ^^"s  tl^e  treasure-box  of  ,11  tie 
best  and  brightest  jewels  of  her  nature-when  she  ga°e  that  awiv 
she  gave  away  herselt-cverything  she  pj.ssesseil  which  was  worth 
having  for  any  one  worthy  to  possess  it.  "" 

In  some  fine  natures  there  is  a  peculiar  power  of  annlvais  which 
Ll°.?"''.""^'/  ""««"*'«"y  and  imconseiously.  while  the  rnin 
seems  hovering  betwixt  dream  and  fancy.     For  the  present   La.Tv 

hirJii  '  ••  '^'"'  "?"'*•'  ''}  •'"^^■"  °"  occasion'and  reason  o,  things  fS 
n?n  nn^  '"'«T  '°'^''*^"'  T^  9<^n,\sient  fashion,  was  not  in  a  mison 
Ing  moo  1  She  was  rather  indulging  in  reverie.  W  ithout  de  iber. 
ately  setting  herself  to  ask  why  she  had  taken  that  curious  So  in 
the  morning  of  the  day  gone  by-as  a  termination  to  a  loa^'and 
wear  some  sort  ot  conflict  whicl,  had  been  going  on  tor  someSimS 
r/.nV'Vm;/'""'!.'?.''^  ^"'''^:'^  '''"^  been  precipitated  paMly  by 
,u"onvIf  Kn,!""*^!''""'  "?'  P"'"^'  l>y  a  vivid  realization  of  the 
agony  of  his  mo  her  during  those  anxious,  weary  hours  ot  watching 

hm  !lid']f»r  rfl'  ^''^/"^"'^^'y  Pa-^^ing  in  revieV  the  causes  wch 
had  led  her  to  take  such  a  sudden  resolution 

Was  she  "in  love"  with  her  cousin?  Oh  no!  Her  heart  told 
her  clearly  that  he  had  not  touched  the  spring  which  makes  the 
heart  resound  to  the  music  of  passion.  ^  wmuj  maKts  tiio 

The  experience  of  "coming  out,"  which  is  looked  upon  as  so 
serious  an  occasion  n  the  life  of  a  young  maiden  of  theliigl  ercW 
of  society,  though   t  has  none  ot  the  solemnity  which  'ffliestol 

first  communion."  or  a  betrothal,  or  a  marriage,  nevertheless  fo? 
a  giil  who  18  not  absolutely  vapid  or  vicious,  wi.o  is  not  ind^ued 
with  the  romantic  conceits  and  pampered  vanities  of  spoiled  girl 
ho..d  has  some  grave  sides  to  it,  and  fives  occasion  to  m  iny  serfoua 
and  troublous  thoughts.  The  world  suddenly  ceases  to  be  a  nursery 
Sas  turnld  n?J^  companions,  and  bright  with  beautifurtoj^,  i^ 
has  turned  into  a  theater  of  comedies  and  tragedies,  wheiein  he 
acting  is  all  too  real.  She  has  entered  into  a  nei  exLrnce  whe  o 
women  marrv  and  are  given  in  marriage;  where  ideas  that  only 
floated  vaguely  in  the  imagination  loom  nearer  and  more  distinct 
as  possible  realities;  where  the>««.  ;;r.m*,V.  is  calle.1  on  to  play  a 
,hi  ;i^,"Pp*"'^''"''  *P*"^  '"'.''  '"^'  •'*^f«''«  a  critical  audience,  to  give 
I  „rfi^'  '"^!-"''^'  '°.'*'"'"^',  *°  *«'«°  <"•  feel  all  the  emo  ions,  to 
«m^  ?"""  V?'**  ««i8'.nnil  realist.  She  who  has  been  simpe 
and  natural  must  learn  social  tact  and  diplomacy  must  acquire  tim 
art  of  readme  (be  characters  and  designs  of  oihirs.  while  she  hi  1m 
or  deploys  her  own  forces.    If  she  be  a  beauty,  she  is  a  personagf 


f,^ 


jQg  A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 

penet.nte.1  ^vilU  tl'c  "ne  «  e  s  of  pm^^^^  ^^^^  bniMuntsuc- 

eess  as  a  iUhut„nle  in  »>'«  "'^^.i/;"™        l.orne  hcrselt  with 

difrnily.  manugea  l..  be  S!'>:  ^^  "  "  ',  i^^fa"?  But  with  all  her  suc- 
bri-lH  ana  fascinating  without  ^f'^J''^^^^^\^^  ^he  had  been  pro- 
cess, an.i  tor  the  very  reason  «  ,,^f;^,«Xk  had  been  «iv..n  to 
foundly  '"suppointe  1.     A  c     1.  oius  ^^^^^  ^^  „^ 

the  romantic  side  of  '"."f";''-,,^  other  sex.  she  had  found  many 
least  a  tew  social  paladins  of  tho  »i"er    l  .  j^^,  shallow 

Spid.  feeble,  and  ^"^""sliS^o  a^  bnre\.ett.-v  qualities  ot 
young  prigs.  A  few  ,^  '^/^™  ,\j./i"  ^s  of  the  heart.  In  society 
Lad  were  destitute  ot  » '«  J"«  ,;i"'?Key  vere  i^raceless  sticks- 
slie  thought  t»'«V  w-ere  inhuinan.^^^^^^  ^j^j^n,    , 

Bomc  of  them  certainly  will  gold  t«P\^  ^['"'j^  ^,y  to  estimate  the 
mfn.  She  was  too  |"f,f  If ^I™  ,^'^v  lopSl ;  und  the  maturer  char- 
value  ot  characters  ^yl  ich  ^^.^[Vl'""^''"  i  ,„  her  ambition,  to  come 
aclers-the  i"i°'l« ''^1^  jy^''Hv'„en^i  who  had  passed  out  ot 
in  contact-were  those  «/, ^  f  •'^\y  ,"'^"ii,.ov'dence  and  the  leading  iu- 
that  era  of  priggery  ^;^f,\ij'7rcreed  that  it  shall  be  the  tale  of 
Btructors  of  English  youtu  have  decreeai  ^^^.^^^^^ 

eveiy  educated  Englislnnan  to  pass  thiougu.  p^_^^^^,^ 

too  many  of  them  ":;,7J,,^,°^.^'^^,e  Seady  i^  that  stale  so  aptly  and 
most  of  these  niutured  spims  wtre  aina^^  ^^.^^^^^  g^^,  ,„^^ 

S^SiineUlie  crnce."i  sliU  more  rarely  take  It.  of  paying 

court  to  a  lasbionable  belle. 

'The  lookout  was  indeed  ^^^f^'^^^^^^  brother.  "  Charlie." 

Lady  Blanche  was  veiy  f"";'.  "/JfJI'^'J^iiticttl  career,  while  his 
^ho  wasseriously  preparing  h.mselt  tor  a  j«ni^^ca^^       ^  ^^^ 

elder  brolher.  Lord  Lai^tor^  was  ^^asU^  .^ 

his  own  few  remaining  rh>  "^^.  ,"",,  heiuL' a  ijenius.  had  qualities 

Snd  debauch,    f^rd  Charles,  wtl  ml  J«  «>  f^^j^^^  him  from  the 

which  she  could  ^^'•"''^^vnje  floating  aliout  on  the  gay  currenis 
hundredsof  young  men  who  were  noavK    ^^^^  ^  ^^.^  ^^  i^jg 

ot  Fociety.    Besides,  he  oP^nj;"  "'*  ""  ^■^     in  her  he  had  long 

Bister,  for  whom  he  '^^f,  ^/"yJiXna'capacilV  beyond  his  own. 

recognized  a  superior  f^^\^'.^Slv^y  often  that  in  that  brilliant 
She  could  not  help  saying  to  hersell  very  01  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^^ 

circle  in  ^^ich  she  mov^  she  h^d  not  yet  see    disadvantage  to  the 
up  to  her  brother  Chailie.    ^hw  wa^^b  with   eo    high  a 

SIrdTr ne:^m»rrer;VhrcIi  ^^as  i=onstantly  at  hand  to  sug- 

nV^e^n%TeTrSer  cousin  the  E^^^^^^^^^^^ 

»srmswrSe;w-.«^=^^--^^ 

iSSe  oT^ricTaSar^uorarp^^^^^^^^  spixits.  of  elevated 


-i*'» 


gossip— ot  flirta- 

pcricnceU.     SUe 
iillUoiigU  it  was 
lent,  wa8  strong 
ler  biil'iunt  sue- 
eaU'i  ot  society. 
ine  iKTselt  with 
us.  to  bi!  silwnys 
villi  nil  lior  8UC- 
le  Imd  been  pro- 
id  been  jiivcn  to 
lioped  to  meet  at 
bail  louml  many 
liant  but  sballow 
letti'V  qualities  ot 
learl.     lu  society 
raceless    slicks— 
!u  liviui^,  spiritual 
le  to  estimate  the 
the  maturer  char- 
ambition,  to  come 
had  passed  out  ot 
nd  the  leadiny:  iu- 
hall  bo  the  tale  of 
out  of  which,  alas! 
lor  Lady  Blanche, 
;,  state  so  aptly  and 
Bsides,  such  men  as 
,'  take  It,  of  paying 

rother,  "Charlie," 
al  career,  while  his 
ternal  tortune,  and 
Dwers,  in  (rambling 
enius,  had  qualities 
}hed  him  from  the 
OQthegay  currt-nis 
as  his  heart  to  his 
In  her  he  had  long 
ity  beyond  his  own. 
ihat  in  that  brilliant 
any  one  who  came 
disadvantage  to  the 
a   with  "Eo    high  a 
ntly  at  hand  to  sug- 

ry,  hei  intimate  rrom 
It  he  had  carried  her 
le  had  always  liked 
mbination  ot  shrewd 
al  spirits,  of  elevated 


A     WEKK    OF    PA8SI0X. 


109 


and  rcmarkal)Ie  culture  for  his  age,  and  of  cynical  humor.  He  had 
only  ullaiiicl  Ills  majority  a  tew  months  ago,  yet  he  had  maile  a 
clever  little  maiden  speech  in  the  House  of  Peers,  nnd  hud  slarted  a 
stable  on  Ihe  tuff.  He  was  a  dandy,  and  he  had  a  sharp,  incisive 
wit.  Pie  frcijuenled  at  the  same  time  Ihe  Carlton,  the  .Marlborough, 
Whites,  Ilurlini-lmm,  and  Tattersall'B;  his  name  turned  up  in  fira 
at  Nice  and  Cannes,  and  in  the  races  at  Auteuil  or  at  Tn.uvillo- 
vet  he  attfndcd  the  Quarter  Sessions  ot  his  county,  and  proved  that 
he  coulil  tiike  a  sensible  and  serious  part  in  county  allairs  along- 
side of  gray  headed  men.  He  professed  Conservailvo  principles  to 
which  his  cynicism  trave  an  odd  flavor  ot  J.ibcrailsHi.  Amon^'all 
•  he  iray  crowd  which  had  passed  under  the  very  critical  eyes  of  Lady 
Blanche,  he  stood  out  as  one  of  the  most  nianlv  and  esliiiiable;  and 
besides,  he  was  just  such  a  wooer  as  a  "  sensible  "  girl  in  her  posi- 
tion would  allow  herself  to  contemplate  with  favor.  Jloreover  he 
Lad  shown  in  his  way  a  marked  preference  for  her.  All  this  nol- 
withslnndinK,  he  was  not  her  Ideal! 

Nothing  can  prevent  that  troublesome,  vaL'ue,  volatile  Ideal  from 
floating  in  between  reason  and  tiie  Heal,  disturbing  the  vision  and 
playine  moonshine  with  the  sensible  and  projier  cduise  of  men  and 
women's  inclinalinns. 

So  that  Lady  Blanche,  having  arrived  very  near  the  end  of  the 
season,  felt  a  vast  and  deep  disappnintnieDt  as  she  looked  about 
her,  and  began  to  contemplate  seriously  the  possibilities  ot  herfuture 
fate.  It  was  useless  for  her  to  try  to  put  the  question  aside  alto- 
gether. That  is  one  of  the  compensating  luxuries  reserved  for  the 
girls  of  the  middle  classia,  and  too  many  people,  includine  her 
father,  were  interested  in  the  result  to  allow  her  to  do  that.  Other- 
wise she  would  gladly  have  dismissed  the  subject,  or  left  it  to  the 
chapter  of  accidents. 

But  had  no  human  figure  ever  presented  itself  to  her  eyes  and 
mind,  which,  whatever  its  accidents,  intrinsically  seemed  to  Ih)  at 
least  a  worthy  embodiment  ot  her  Ideal  ?  Had  any  one  outside  that 
charmed  innermosi  circle  of  the  aristocracy,  to  which  her  views  were 
supposed  to  be  confined,  touche<i  her  heart  sulficienlly  to  give  it  a 
troubled  movement  whenever  his  image  floated  before  her  memory? 
Her  answer,  had  the  question  been  put  squarely  to  her  would 
have  been  "  No  "—and  it  would  have  been  a  true  one.  Up  to  this 
June  morning,  at  all  events,  which  is  just  about  to  dawn  Lady 
Blanche  s  heart  was  free.  And  yet  she  had  often  thought  that  there 
was  one  man,  with  whose  face,  figure,  air,  and  abilities  she  was  very 
familiar  who  was  very  near  her  type  of  a  manly  and  perfect  char- 
acter. He  had  sense,  intelligence,  wit,  culture;  he  had  a  chivalrous 
bearing  toward  women,  and  a  dignified  carriage  and  great  social 
adroitness  among  men.  His  dark,  deep  eyes,  his  rich  mellow  voice 
the  sympathy  which  seemed  to  radiate  from  him  with  magnetic 
influence,  his  features,  not  precisely  handsome,  but  full  ot  intelli- 

fence  and  candor— all  made  him  peouliariy  attractive  to  women 
lOrd  Charles  and  Lord  Tilbury  not  only  liked  him,  but  had  made 
him  quite  a  friend.    He  had  been  a  familiar  figure  lo  her  almost 
from  childhood.    But  Ihen  he  was  George  Barton,  the  agent's  son 
a  gentleman,  but  not  in  the  least  degree  likely  to  look  so  hieh  any 
more  than  she  was  likely  to  look  so  low.    She  could  esteem  him 


110 


A    WKEK    OF    PASSION. 


'. 


and  be  all  Ibo  more  easy  nnd  fniuiUnr  with  him  that  Ibero  mii«l  al- 
wnvM  he  on  Imth  hLIcs  a  conscipusncss  of  their  rclalive  posit  on« 
Alan  I  whavcsmiihat,  as  far  as  he  was  eoncernc(    Ihat  Imd  not 
oreventfd  liim  from  looliini:  and  looldnt;  anain.  until  Ids  liear,  had 
aken  the  darin-  leap.     Is  it  posslhlc  that  perhaps,  just   now  an. 
then   when   tht^  x.tcnt  spi'll  ot  George  IVirton's  soeiety  w.w  8  ill 
around  her.  sucli'a  thoui,'lit  as  this  may  liave  tlashe.l  through  her 
mind,  hut  90  ligldly  and  rapidly  as  not  to  rev;c.al  anvthing  serious 
"  -Wl  at  a  pity  that  he  is  m.t  Iho  Manpiis  of  nromlacres  instead  ot 
the  idiot  ^ho  W"     Or  when  slie  was  horcd  and  disgusted  by  Iho 
stupid  attentions  of  Lord  Praltlecond).!,  the  millionaire  Imron,  son 
ot  a.  ironmaster,  had  she  ever  thouL'lit.  •'  It. he  were  only  sueh  a 
nan  as  Georue  IJarion  "V    Such  a  thougld,  it  it  ever  had  arisen,  had 
soon  been  dismissed  an.l  lelt  no  sentimental  Iracei  on  her  memory 

Whatever  follows,  therefore,  we  must  do  this  luslice  to  Lady 
Blanche,  that  in  that  singular  impulse  to  give  her  Cousin  l"^'  W'>n"} 
chance,  which  was  as  good  as  an  ol!er,  she  had  not  been  unfaithtu) 

^°A8^she".y  there,  reflecting  how  disappointed  she  had  been  with 
evervbody  and  everything,  she  could  not  help  thinking  wh«  a 
goose  She  had  made  ot  herself  in  the  morning,  or  avoid  tee  ing  glad 
tliat  nothing  serious  had  come  of  It.  She  knew  now  that  she  had 
had  the  narrowest  escape  In  hci  life  from  doing  an  irredeemably 
wronc  thing  Phe  almost  shuddered  when  she  began  to  realize  how 
The  wo«li»  >«ive  felt  at  that  moment  had  she  really  been  committed 

'°LeavSthat''sISJject.  her  thoughts  turned  to  her  father  and  his 
secret  yet  evident  anxiety,  and  then,  by  a  natural  co.use,  to  George 
Barton  and  his  troubles.     The  shortest  cut  to  a  woman  s  heart  la 
th  ough  her  pity,  and  when  she  began  to  rtcall  his  face,  his  words, 
i"    ejected  appearance,  his  cvi.le.it  anguish,  the  figure  of  George 
Barton  began  to  assume  in  her  eyes  a  strangely  moving  and  sympa- 
thetic aspect,     tier  impulse  to  see  him  and  speak  to  him  the  night 
betoro  ha.l  been  dictate.l   by  pure  good-nature.  tor  hei    fee  ings 
toward  him  were  very  friendly.     She  would  have  done  as  much  for 
eTmusU^master,  Mr.  Pistachio,  who  certainly  had  not  inspired  the 
Erand  passion  in  any  woman  for  twenty  years     But  it  was  not  pos- 
sible for  her  to  think  of  George  Barton  after  that  evening  as  she  had 
thoiight  of  him  before.    In  the  excitemeiit  of  the  moment  he  had 
b  t  ayed  too  much  to  th€  quick-witted  g  rl.     When  she  recalled  his 
face  and  wor.ls  and  acts,  her  first  impulse  was  to  regret  it  al1~lo 
wish  it  had  not  happened-to  say  that  it  was  most  unfortunate,  and 
w..uld  put  a  consi.lerable  restraint  upon  their  intercourse-m  fact 
exacily  what  a  lu.licious  matron  would  say  that  such  a  girl  ought 
to  have  thought  under  such  circumstances.  ^       ,    „»  „„.„ 

But  all  thfs  was  suddenly  swept  away  liy  a  great  rush  of  sjm- 
pnthy  through  her  heart.  As  he  kisse.l  her  band  s^e  had  experienced 
rthrlU  of  feeling  unlike  anything  she  had  ever  felt  before.  Do 
what  she  would.^'she  cmdd  not  forget  the  sensation.  The  IrouDled 
aonealing  look  of  his  eyes  came  up  vividly  before  her.  .bhe  re- 
flS  on  the  sharpness  of  his  trial,  the  terrible  nature  of  his  hufler- 
?nS  a"°  »Pp'eci»ted  far  beyond  lis  standard  the  nobility  with 
Sh  he  bore  bis  sorrow.   How  glad  she  would  have  been  to  speafe 


A    WEEK    OF    rASSlOX. 


]J1 


nt  tliero  must  a!- 
slniivo  posiUonn. 
icd,  Hint  Imd  not 
itil  his  hciirw  liiul 
I,  just  now  niul 
soc'iety  wiis  si  ill 
hull  Ihiough  lier 
nvtliiiiK  SLTioim? 
Iiicros  iustcuil  ot 
tlisniiatud  by  Iho 
imirc  iMiron,  son 
*'('re  only  such  a 
irlmilnrison,  hart 
on  her  nicniory. 
iiislice  to  LiMly 
Cousin  KdwanI  a 
t  l)cen  unfailbtul 

10  hud  been  with 
thinking  whiit  a 
ivoiil  teelint;  glad 
now  that  she  liail 
nil  irredeemably 
;iin  to  realize  liow 
r  been  committed 

er  father  and  his 
course,  to  Gcorgo 
woman's  heart  is 
s  tace,  his  words, 

figure  of  George 
oving  and  sympn- 
:  to  him  liie  night 

tor  hei  feelings 
done  OS  much  tor 
Id  not  inspired  the 
5ut  it  was  not  pos- 
3vcnlng  as  she  had 
c  moment  he  had 
en  she  reciiUcd  his 
10  reuret  il  ail —to 
t  unfortunate,  and 
tercourse— ill  fact, 
such  a  girl  ought 

;reat  rush  of  sym- 
le  had  experienced 
r  felt  before.  Do 
m.  The  troubled, 
fore  her.  She  fe- 
ature of  his  huffer- 
the  nobility  with 
have  been  to  speafc 


some  words  of  comfort  to  him,  to  help  hjni  to  endure  his  .rrjefi 
lad  he  only  been  a  TilSury  or  u  Heauchamp!     lla.l  ii      ul y  I  een 

p(.8.sll)le  to  regard  him  as  a  serious  aspirant'  "'    ""0  nttn 

fn,,'I.'lM!l'i .""'''■'''*''  ''r"  '"^^*^^o'"'"'f  '''"""'•^^'•ous.  and  with  George  Har- 
t    M,.hV''?'  "I'l«^^"'"'ff. '"'^l'">'-'l'"ly  face  still  before  her  eyes,  Lady 

Jllrnu  he  8tar  ed-yawned,  stretched  lier  arn.s.  and  crit-.l  ^ 

^vini^  or'sle  .  f."^  '""'    ^'  ''  "^'"^'^'  ^'"i'^K'".  ""''  1  '"'v'e  not  had  a 


'HlHv  a>ln'!  "H?'"^*-''^'  •'?''"'-'"'  '""'  ""«'"tii»tM,tal  that  we  may 
or  iMorphous,  for  she  ceases  lo  be  Interesting. 


f 


ClIAPTKlf    XI. 

A   PETKH'IVK   DKTKCTKD. 

Wi:  have  said  tliat,  when  Mr.  fJrayson  reported  to  .Messrs.  Pollard 
&  Pollard  that  the  Earl  of  Sell.y  had  gone  straight  from  their  o  lice 
wif,rcoi5;teni;rti.;r"''"''''"^'  '"^  '^^•"  '-"--  '-l^-'  "^  eaC.  „ther 

But  an  inci^dent  had  occurred  which  Mr.  Gravson  did  not  think  fit 
lllirEir'TiSxTet'f' '"'  ""'  """  ^"-  T'^'  ""^  l.avc?'sermHo 
soltfJ^li'^^'m"""  i"'*^ j*?""""^'!  ""■  e'Tl  ^om  the  verv  door  of  the 

"  l|al''_  be  said,  "  Pollard  &  Pollard?" 
i.„  .1  #•"  rfll'^'*"*  ^'r.  Grayson,  mechanically,  tiirownoll  his  cuard 
by- the  familiar  manner  of  the  address,  which  is  in  accordance  with 
a  formula  m  use  ainoug  lawyers'  clerks  at  court  or  judges' cham- 
bers when  addressing  or  asking  for  the  represemative  of  a  fl.m 
whose  personal  identity  is  unknown  to  them  »  '"m 

.'.'  J  '^o*;*'''''  ^**-  following  up  the  Earl  of  Selby  eh?" 
J  don  t  see  what  business  that  is  of  yours."  retorted  Air  Omv 
son  astonislied  at  the  stranger's  impudence.  "  UMio  are  3^u?" '"^ 
«..i,i  .1  •  .'"  S'nitb&  bmith.  or  .Jones  &  Jones,  wliicheveryoi.  please  " 
Sfv  ' 'H?.?r',.'T""  'J'.Hl'  '^^'-  Grayson  considered  to  be  niplack 
wh il^'vn,,.  i  ,  'T'  •'*'  '"■'."'«•-''■  '">"«'••  '°  "  confidential  tone^ 
«1    iUk   'M   1*="°  •''''^«>'  «»r'»  in  a  f'""il'»r  way  under  that  of  the 

if  you  w  11  only  i^crmit  me  tlie  opportunity,  I'll  tell  you  why     But 
n  will  take  some  time.     Let's  go  into  the  ^litre  Zu,m  snack 
or  a  glass  of  something,  and  I'll  be  happy  to  explain  " 

riie  man  was  not  a  suspicious-looking  person.  He  was  woll 
dressc-d  and  would  have  passed  as  a  respectable  solicitor's  clerk  a 
gold  Cham  flourished  rather  pretentiously  ou  his  buff  waistcokt 

7unZuT\''  '*-'""'H™  *'«'"''  """   faniiliarity  about  his  Sne  ' 
though  his  face  was  by  no  means  hamlsome,  and  allogetherMr 

SKXd"KK"  "■"'^'""- '" '""  "^^"^  '^'""-  ^'^^  ""^^  ""-• 

The  two  gentlemen  were  soon  engaged  in  taking  a  very  consider- 
able    snack     togtther,  iu  the  shape  of  a  few  pounds  ot  roas"  C. 


-1> 


4! 


112 


A     WKKK    «>l''     I'AISSIOK. 


wn8lic.l  .lovvn  l.y  « l.oltl.i  cf  Mliony.     I  Im v«  been  told  by  n  detect  vo 
Urn    1  ■r(•i.no^i.,ui.l  whid.  bus  sucl.  virttu-s  .m  un  oi)-""  o    lb« 
I  ear.,  us  the  ll.-ry  sU.t!  sold  l..r  sherry  ut  six  shillinsa  a  l'"  "e  In 

r  London   r..HluurHn..      Cl.un.pi.Kn"  »'f'-'«  '^  TI^  ..'vV    .h'.i!^  wil 

Fniudi  Hiiy.  but  il  reacb.-H  only  llio  llgbt.T  laci  Ult«.  excUes  lb',  w i I 
fbo  spirit  of  .mis..b>d.  and  otlu.r  b,ui  .piriu-lt  does  ""^  ''"'^     1^,« 
■ecn-   Hl.rinv'H  ol  be.n-.     Heside^  II  take»  u  good  deal  of        *>     *i_ 
ate  on  a  seasoned  cask,  and  it  is  ontly.     Beer      goes  to  lb«  leel. 
QDd  L'lvfs  ibeni,  and  the  brai..  also,  a  leaden  tuelm^  ot  W"  or   •»"  1 
security   and.  it  anvlbin(,Malber  ten.ls  to  shut  a  man  up  tban    .o 
raX  bin    eonunwnleativ...     Port  wine  U  d  si  netly  an  insolven 
U  n  ud   les.  but   il  kIvh  no  expa.ision.     Whisky     aken   neat     u 
s.mcie  t  .iu«''l'ti'--«.  >''«  ""  HNvnkeninj;  ellect   eBpecially  on  a  Ne.Keh. 
Zn   imtoaeerlain  point,  but  it  exeites  the  wronK  faeul  ies^it 
mouses' the    uarrelson'.e  tendencies  in  some  nu-n  and  the  cautious  in 
o    ers    lot   \uib  sugar,  the   patient  who  imbibes  it  son.etin.es  be- 
cl,    eo  lldentilu  al'ihe  tUteenlh  orsixteentb  ulass.  "»t.  »«  awym 
Bay  time  then  becomes  of  the  essence  of  the  contract.     The  so olh^ 
lnL''e(Iecl8  of  gin  are  too  well  known  to  needdcscnption.  Iiut  l)eIore 
a  man  is  thrown  oil  his  guard  under  its  inibiences.  his  eoiuinunica- 
fio^s     however    conlkiential.    be<^omo  muddy    and  embarr.issing. 
For  •'•  louchinl'  UP  ••  a  man  rapidly  «"d  giving  him  a  general  sense 
ot  wellSg  an^of  atlection  for  L  uex";  -ighbor.  for  oi.ening   be 
BcS  chambm  of  bis  b««n.  and  bringing  ibeir  contents  under  the 
inspect io^^^^^^^^  thecuiiousin.iuirer.   Loudon  sherry,  made  in     Ian- 
Krw»h  potato  brandy,  is  the  article  ^hicb  in  '!'«  ^as^nia  or  y 
o  cases  has  the  most  r./pid  and  deadly  ett«:t.     According  to  my  in- 
?orranl.  "  it  touches  up  every  corner;"  it  pervades,  invades,  ami 

""tt^iman^viXl  shown  himself  so  gencrouB  to  Mr.  Gray- 
Bon  selected  8  my.  and  out  ot  consideration  for  his  guest,  ,«rmUtei 
l°e  ?ale  to  consume  the  greater  part,  in.leed  near  y  the  whole  ot 
the  bo  lie  It  was  a  long  time  since  old  Grayson  had  had  such  a 
Imt  and  though  naturaflyof  a  cuulious  and  «il^nt  emperanien  . 
he  when  liisheail  waa  warmed  up.  and  his  temples  began  to  beat 
crew  conttienial  with  bis  new  ftiend.  This  gentleman  had  put 
Sim  at  hirease  by  telling  him  that  he  was  engaged  on  llie  same 
Set  .e  viee  's  himself-"  i>i  »trM  confide,ice,  lie  was  a  dcMecUve 
5f^m  Spoiland  Yird  "  employed  at  the  instance  ot  Messrs.  PoUarcl 
&  PolS  to  S  ana  S  "cover  the  whereabouts  or  the  late  of  Mr^ 
Barton  It  seen  s  the  most  natural  thing  in  ;»'«.«°'-  l^'T.eS 
one's  self  to  a  detective  when  one  knows  he  is  after  somebody 

'"''"Of  course."  he  said,  with  a  meaninc  glance  at  Mr.  Grayson 
••  we've  got  10  watch  wliat  the  earl  does,  you  see.  because  he  waa 

^"Sror'X'sf'^said  Mr.  Grayson,  winking  as  it  be  perfectly 
comprehended  the  crjptical  game  ot  the  detective  force,  though  he 

"'^^'ree^'iJrrrfSiVhrsame.''  said  the  delec.ive       "Ah. 
you're  dever  people'.     Very  able  firm.  Pollard  &  Pollard;  very 

Bbarp,  eh?"  ^  • 

"  As  razors,"  said  Mr.  Grayson. 


1(1  by  n  (letecllvo 
,n  opuiiL-r  ot  tlio 
^a  a  linltle  in  a 
iiintrdir,  an   llio 
,  i'\cilu8  tin;  wit, 
vB  not  toiicli  iLe 
I'lil  <if  it  lo  opcr- 
)e8  to  I  lie  led," 
^  ol  coiiitort  ttiul 
nun  up  tliiin    ia 
ly  un  insolvunt. 
,  taken   neat,  in 
ally  on  a  i^eoteh- 
onu  faciillie*— it 
(1  llie  cautious  in 
it  HoniulimeB  be- 
1,  l)ut,  »»  lawyers 
raet.     Tlie  soolli- 
pliiin,  l)ut  before 
,  liiH  eoiunuinlca- 
w\  eniliarrassiug. 
1  a  general  sense 
r,  for  opening  the 
ontents  under  llio 
,  made  in   llain- 
the  vast  majority 
cording  to  niy  in- 
dcs,  invades,  and 

rous  to  Mr.  Oray- 
8  guest,  iiermitteil 
ally  the  whole,  of 
1  had  bud  such  a 
lent  temperament, 
ilea  began  to  beat, 
mtlcmau  bud  put 
tged  on  lUe  same 
he  was  a  delective 
>t  Messrs.  Pollard 
ir  the  lute  of  Mr. 
world  10  unbosom 
s  after  somebody 

B  at  Mr.  Grayson, 
L-e,  because  he  was 

as  if  be  perfectly 
e  force,  though  he 

detective.      "  Ahl 
1  &  Pollard;  very 


A     WEKK    or     I'ASSKIN. 


113 

of    ihelr 


"  And  1  ace  bv  your  lonks  and  appearance  you're  one 
confldenlial  clerks— an  old  'un." 

"  1  have  been  thirty  years  at  Pollard  ifc  PoUurd'H;  and  to  tell  you 
the  trulli,  you  kimw,  ibis  Is  ronllilential  ImsineHs  I'm  on  now,"  fmlii 
Mr.  flrayson,  witli  priJe.  "Todnv  .Mr.  .losepli  Pollurd  called  mo 
Into  the  priviilt  room,  mid  he  mh\,  '  Look  here,  (rrayson,  this  Is 
strictly  private  and  conlidenlial  biislne!<M  you  know— not  a  word  to 
the  other  clerks— Ilie  Karl  of  Selby  is  on'c  of  our  best  clients— wo 
'rant  lo  know  where  he  Is  going  to— you  follow  him  up,  regardless 
v.(  expense— and  tlnd  out  all  about  It."  There's  a  sovereijin  lor  you 
for  e.\|H'nses. '  " 

"  Ry  .love!  do  things  in  royal  style,  eh?" 

"  I  should  think  they  do— one  ot  the  llrst  firms  in  London,"  said 
Mr.  Oraysiin,  whose  memory,  it  will  be  noted,  had,  among  other 
faculties,  been  rather  nflectcd  by  the  sherry. 

"  Yes,  (|tiile  so;  very  clever  of  them  lo  think  ot  it.  lla,  ha!  Thpy 
didn't  know  tliat  1  was  waiting  to  do  the  same  thing.  Ah!  they're 
long-headed  men,  they  are.  1  suppose,  now,  they  do  un  immense 
business  lor  the  Karl  ol  Selby?" 

"  Well,  you  know,"  replied  f}r,iyson,  "  they're  solloitors  to  the 
great  Till)ury  estate,  for  which  Lord  Selby  is  (executor,  and  then 
they're  solicitors  to  Lord  Tilbury's  mother;  and  1  should  say  be- 
tween 'em  It's  worth  over  a  thousand  or  two  a  yeur.  Hut,  Lord 
bless  your  soul,  that's  nothing  to  our  people." 

"  Flea-bite,  eh?  And  then,  1  suppose,  they  are  tlie  Earl  ot  8el- 
by's  lawyers?" 

"  Kot  exactly.  You  sec,  Mr.  narton— the  man  that  cut  It— wn» 
the  Earl  of  Selby 's  agent.  But  there's  lately  l)een  a  good  deal  of 
business,  in  our  office  tor  the  earl- very  confidential  business,  you 
know— all  kept  in  the  private  room,  and  done  by  the  head  clerk  or 
one  or  the  partners— borrowing,  1  fancy  "—here  >Ir.  Orayson  winked 
-"sometimes,  you  know,  these  rich  noblemen  spend  too  much 
money,  and  need  a  little  accommodation." 

"  Exactly,"  nodded  and  said  the  obliging  friend,  as  if  he  hatt 
been  in  the  Imsiness,  and  understood  It  thoroughly.  "  And  then 
they  don't  like  to  tell  their  own  private  agents,  and  so  they  go  to  a 
flrst-class  firm  they  can  trust— like  Pollard  &  Pollard  —  and  get 
them  to  make  a  confidential  advance  on  deposit  ot  title-deeds— that's 
It— hey?" 

"That's  the  way!"  said  Mr.  Grayson,  tossing  of!  another  xlass 
of  sherry.     "  Pine  wine  that— dry—nulty— clean  to  tlic  palate." 

"  Take  another  glass.  So  Lord  Selby  has  been  borrowing  pri- 
vately?" 

Mr.  Grayson  suddenly  paused,  with  the  glass  half-way  lo  his 
mouth,  and  said, 
"  I  say  Mr.— what  did  you  say  vour  name  was?"        ^ 
"Dillon." 

"  Mr.  Dillon,  now  you're  asking  too  much.  What's  that  got  to 
do  with  Mr  jtl'urton?  Mr.  Barton  never  knew  anything  about  it  till 
a  short  time  ago,  a  fortnight  or  so,  and  1  expect  that  it  was  his  find- 
ing it  out  that  all  the  row's  about." 

"Ohl  there's  been  a  row  then!"  mentally  ejaculated  "Sir.  Dil- 
Jon."    Orally,  he  said, 


m 


'%'S 


:,-9^,-*JJt 


114 


A    WKEK    OP    PAS8I0K. 


•■  1  (liin  t  wnnl  v. .11  In  tell  mo  nnjililnj;  wlmtcvcr  timfs  c-ontl- 
ili'iiliiil.  Mr.  (liiiVHim.  1  HOC  lliiil  you  wouldn't  do  ho  nny  wiiy.  it  I 
wiTi- 1()  iislv  you,"  1,(1  iiiiM'Niiliiiii  10  voii  wlmt  my  idea  was.  \im 
«L'i'  I  iliouiilil  iliiil  vmi  mid  1  niiirld  !•■•  inuluidly  •i^''^"'  '">  o'>i'  »»■ 
olli'iT  III  lliiH  imslnm-im  \vc  are  :>oth  luuifstcd  on  llie  sunui  Nidc, 
voo  know." 

Mr.  (Inivson  nodded.  .  ,  .    .        „ . 

•  Nosv    I  am  ;;oiii),'  lo  noomU  Io  you  In  llif  ulrlclost  conndiMiw. 
Mr  '(ini\>on,  and  It  you  d..n'l  kfcp  II  to  yoursull,  «oll.  llicn,   I 
sluill  i:el  lliL-  Hack,  and  you  will  lose  llio  clmnci-  ot  niaUlnj;  a  uood 
iliinif  out  of  it.     You  know  ilicru  11  iiu  a  good  di:al  of  iiioni-y  Koln_(; 
ovfi  IhU  jo'-,  and  I'm  vury  muxIouh  Io  nuike  u  Jol)  ot  it.      I  luTf  s 
8l.\  hundri'il  iiounds  olU'ied  hy  your  llim  alont;.  and  thure  •  that 
Voun"Mr.  narlon  liaa  l)mi  talklu^i  of  oIli'iiuK  live  liundml  more. 
'riifn~l  ililidi  till'  (lovornmcnl  may  oIUt  Bomclldu),' '  — HdH  was  a 
liraluilouft  and  olTcnsivc  slan.lur  ot  llm  .-'n-tli^ln,,/  Mr.  Dillon  «  upon 
a  Liberal  OoVfriiniciii,  invcnti'd  on  llif  spur  ot  lliu  munu'iii.    '  \ou 
si'O  our  l.usiness,  Mr.  tJiav.son,  h  a  IiIkIi  art— a  very  dinicull  one. 
It  Isn't  atwavH  1)V  Uk-  Infoinialion  we  iret  dlrucl  from  llie  parileH 
tliat  we  llud  out  lHo  ri),'lit  ck-w  lo  tlicsu  nucret  eriiucH  ami  disuppcar- 
nnoi'S-  It's  l)y  RL'ltinj,'  t)  know  wlml's  undeinualli.  you  kuow—litllu 
thinirs  whioh  people  don't  think  to  bo  of  nuy  eonseiiuiiue.  and  lor- 
uet  to  tell  us,  or  pcrliiips  ilon't  like  to  tell  us,  beciuise  they  ate  com- 
promlsln"  to  their  clients;  (luite  liarniless  tblni;-*,  you  kno^v,  which 
1u8t  uive  us  11  hint,  and  which  we  always  treat  in  tiir  striclcM  conll- 
dence      1-ittlo  thinj,"*  >n'*v  hupi>.n--let  us  say,  lor  Instance  in  yo\ir 
ottict— which  would  escape  the  obscrvntlou  oi  bifi  men  like  your 
Drlnclpals.  und  wliicli  they  would  nei'er  incnlion  10  us,  and  yet 
which    might,  vou   know-mij-nl   help  to    put    us    on  ihe    rii;  it 
Bcent    and  so  help   us  to   fei ret  out  the  whole    mystery.     Wei, 
a  niim  like  you,  who    is    always   on  the  spot— always  keeps  his 
eves    and    cars    open.    1    can   see   that- could    give    me    a    hint 
DOW  and  then  of  what  was  goln?  on-witliout  belrayiuK  any  confl- 
uence mind;  wc  don't  encouraj;e  that  in  our  depurtnient-thut  is 
not  Kood  policy,  and  it  ain't  honorable— but  he  miuht  help  us  to 
make  more  out  of  the  Information  we  i?et  from  the  llrm-don  t  you 
8ce— and  he  would  be  UclpinK  thum  at  the  same  tiuu-  he  was  helping 

us  " 

•'  1  won't  betiay  no  secrets  of  the  firm,"  said  Mr.  Grayion,  shut- 
ting up  his  Hds  in  the  Chubbs  lock  fashion,  as  he  hail  done  before 
his  principals.  .   ,    » 

'•  Preclselv;  tbat  is  "«  '"0"-'  than  1  would  have  e.xpcded  of  a  man 
of  vour  iTOsition  and  standini;  us  n  coulldeutinl  clerk,  Mr.  Grayson, 
and  vou  would  be  very  careful  not  lo  overstep  the  boimds  ot  honor 
and  dutv  But  vou  could  throw  a  good  deal  of  liuht  upon  the  in- 
formation 1  have' from  time  to  time-and  so  serve  us  and  your  peo- 
ple and  yourself,  Mr.  Grayson,  at  the  same  tune-lor  of  course  it 
would  bo  uudeistood  that  there  was  quid  pro  ijno,  as  you  lawyers 
sav  wo  could  not  put  you  to  trouble  without  siiarmg  some  of  tlie 
protlt  with  you.  Well,  all  1  ask  ot  you  is  this;  1  clou  t  want 
to  bo  worrying  your  principals  every  lialt  hour  for  little  items 
of  infoimation;  1  only  want  to  be  able,  when  1  don  t  quite 
understand  the  bearing  of    anything  that   turns    up,  to  come  to 


-T 


IT     tllllt's    C'Olltl- 

lo  tiny  wiiy,  it  1 
idcii  was.     Vou 

iSI'ful  tl)  oiu>  Itll- 
I  tllU  tlUIIKl  Niilu, 


:;lost  conflflt.'nco, 
I,  ^^^■\\,  llicn,  I 
initkin^'  H  iiOKii 
of  iiiotu'V  Koliig 
I  of  it.  There's 
wrnl  tliLTu'g  that 
'  iiumlrcd  more. 
I),'  "— lliis  was  u 
r.  Uillori's  upon 
inuiiu'iil.  "  Vou 
.•ry  (filllfuli  oue. 
Iioiii  tlie  |)i«riic8 
«  ami  (lisiipneiir- 

lOU  iillOW— Ijtlll) 

i|iu'nri!,  iiiul  lor- 
Ni!  they  aru  coin- 
i)U  k\ut\y,  wliieh 
le  wHiele^l  eoiltl- 
nstauce,  in  yotir 
:  men  liUe  your 
10  us,  ami  yet 
It)  on  I  lie  rii;ht 
mystety.  Well, 
»l\vuyH  keeps  hU 
;ive  nie  u  hint 
raying  any  confi- 
iiirtniunt — that  Is 
iii^ht  help  us  to 
!  llrni— ilon't  you 
le  he  wtiB  helping 

r.  Gniyion,  shut- 
had  liouo  before 

xpecleil  of  a  man 
rU,  Ml.  Grayson, 
boiiuds  ot  honor 
lisihl  upon  the  in- 
ns and  your  peo- 
— tor  of  course  it 
(/.  as  you  lawyers 
iriujr  some  of  the 
lis;  1  don't  want 
r  tor  little  items 
in  1  don't  quite 
up,  to  come  to 


A     WKKK    <>K    1'.V^^H)^^ 


115 


you  in  ft  friendly  «(iv  as  It  were,  and  unk  your  opinion  alxiut 
It,  and  ^(f  your  adviee  .ii  to    wluit  1    Nliould'do:    and  ot  coiirMo 

''*■  would  !>»•  ((Mf^TstOod  tU:il  If  I  well'  lo  tis|{  ailMhlll;;  yi.lj 
lei!  'ouiul  ill  lioni^f  not  to  ui^swer,  why.  then  >X)il  wnuld  Just  Miy 
so,  fr.i  ililv,  you  Itiiow  llo  orttnse  on  e'illier  Hide  -iitiil  we  slioiilil 
llien  .ipi.r.  oiUeially  to  yoiit  [  JitmipalH  to  ^Ivo  us  thu  Inforinullou. 
it's  only  ii>  facilllale  inatlers,  yon  fW;" 

Mr.  (Jriiysoii  M>ddeil.  The  duliento  cotisMl^'ration  shown  by  the 
dileollve  i-lniek  liliii  with  adn.lrnlioii. 

"  Well,  ilien,  it's  ii^reeil  nn  tluit  foollni?  that  if  vou  will  help  nio 
In  Ihls  coiiildcnlliil  way— ami  sllicily  between  ourselves,  mind  vou 
will  receive  a  reiniineralion,  eertalii;  iifid  if  we  succi-eil  in  piiliiiijj 
the  liiisiiiess  tliroui;!!,  iheti  vo\i  shall  have  ii  hIiiim!  ot  the  rewiird— 
all  between  oiir.xelve",  von  know— and  it  tvlll  add  soinelliini,'  liaml- 
some  to  your  vi'ftr's  ineoiiiw."  • 

"  Tliai's  all  fair  and  wpmre  enoiigli,"  said  Mr.  Orayson.     "  Ho 
long  ns  you  don't  ask  me  to  Itelray  any  conlldenco,  I'm  your  man, 
Jlr.  — Mr.  — Mr.-- " 
"  Dillon." 

"  Dillon?"     Ills  Jaw  siichlenly  dropped.     "  "Wjiv,  you  ain't—" 
"  No,  nol"  saht  the  other,  Inugliliig;  "  1  ain't  the  Irish  member. 
God  lorbidl" 

"  Well,  Mr.  Dillon  ~  By  the  way,  can't  you  give  me  your 
card'/" 

"  No;  l)Mt  look  here;  1  will  wiite  down  my  nimie  and  address- 
yon  had  lietter  communicate  with  mo  at  my  private  nddregs— No. 
50  Handall  Street,  Chelsea."  .Mr.  Dillon  wrote  ihe  addtess  on  ft 
leaf  of  a  memorandum  book,  which  ho  took  out  ot  his  pocket,  and 
handed  it  to  Mr.  Grayson,  addlnur,  "  And  look  here,  1  know  you 
lawyers  like  a  retainer— hey?  Let  mo  hand  you  this  as  a  llrst  In- 
stallment.    It's  a  ten  pun'  note," 

"Oh!  Mr.— Mr, —  "  said  Mr.  Grayson,  with  a  feeble  gesture  of 
deneijaiion. 

"  No,  no,  1  Insist.  Qiiiil  pro  quo,  my  dear  sir.  Nothing  for 
nothing.  Unit's  my  motto.  And  now  1  roust  bo  Koing,  to  see  what 
our  noble  friend  is  doing,  lie  must  have  got  through  his  say  with 
young  Barton  by  this  time.  And  of  comae  vou  are  goiii>;  to  mi.ke 
your  confldenliat  report  to  3Iessrs.  Pollard  iV  Pollard.  Well,  yi  u 
will  permit  mo,  if  you  please,  to  discharge  the  little  liill!  Happy  to 
have  made  your  acquaintance,  Mr.  Grayson.  Hope  it  will  coniluce 
to  our  mutiisl  proilt,  advantage,  and  behetit.  Good-day,  Mr.  Gray- 
son.    Your  most  obedient." 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Sontag  was  a  man  of  ger.itis. 
lie  was  pursuing  his  incpiirles  in  what  we  have  termed  iin  under- 
ground manner;  and  not  content  with  looking  for  traces  ot  the  miss- 
ing Mr.  Barton  wherever  he  coulil  find  them,  or  of  the  crime 
wherever  they  directly  presented  themselves,  lie  was  also  determined 
to  wstch  the  pursuers,  the  persons  who  had  given  him  his  instruc- 
tions, or  professed  to  be  interested  In  the  pursuit,  and  to  acquire 
from  or  through  them,  nolenn  rolcnn,  a  knowledge  of  the  real  rela- 
tions which  existed  between  them  and  the  persons  for  the  problem 
of  whose  fate  tliey  had  asked  him  to  find  the  solution,  flence  he 
had  given  instructions  that  every  movement  of  Messrs.  Pollard  & 


^^ 


116 


A    WEEK    OF    I'ASHIOX. 


should 


Pollard,  and  of  their  distinsuished  client,  the  Earl  of  Selby 
hp  carefully  wnlc'icd  iind  reported  to  Imn.  „„,„o, 

VVl'en  Mr  Grayson  entered  the  olllce  of  l.ia  em p  oyer 8  another 
genllSanwho  had  heen  slandinij  and  walking  about  in  I'f  r e  g  ■ 
Sood  in  an  unoccupied  way.  examin«>g  the  l'0»^,f  "»'' '^''^''"''^j 
irnne  nlTordtd  bv  tlie  Fields,  tooli  note  of  it  and  ot  the  hou.,  and 
ronUuedo  wander  about  'piomiscuously.  lilie  a.i  .m.Msy  ep  r  . 
lie  was  i oined  later  on  in  the  afternoon  by  another  Kentlenian  with- 
out  srecSi  but  with  very  bushy  eyebrows.  "•Inch  were  qu.  e  a. 
T^ddv  taken  oft  as  specta.aes.  and  were  not  so  liable  to  tr..cture 
Sse  two  genSemen  spied  the  noings-out  and  corniuKsin  of  the 
two  partners  iZl  were  t. Id  olT  to  ascenain  the  names  and  addresses 
"persons  wi^lh  ^vhom  they  held  communication  outside  heir 
omces  From  an  eaily  hour  on  SiUurday  morning  b(dore  they  liad 
?et  their  iweclive  homes  in  Regent's  Park  and  South  kensing- 
on  Sl^srs  Pollard  S.  P  Ihml  had  been  subjected  to  this  most 
SeaucS:  and  «n.l5riti.h  espionage  Mr  Bontag  began  to  take 
uction  before  the  famous  contereuce  at  the  lloi.ie  Office. 

The  wanderer  witli  the  spectacles  lollowcd  Mr.  Pollard,  senmr, 

notice    l°e  SSn  who  sal  at  the  next  table,  who  seemed  more 

Crossed  w^lh  the  perusal  of  the  "  St.  James's  Gazette       ban  w,  h 

the  exeellen     oint  of  mutton  which  was  served  at,  that  capital  estab- 

Kimen    and  who  somehow  appeared  to  have  as  much  leisure  as 

hi  weal  hv  solicitor,  for  he  managed  to  take  an  hour  and  a  hal    to 

,U  r."rr\nd  only  rose  to  leave  when  Mr.  Chat- es  P'' l''«\^"^ 

mid  hs  bill  ami  taken  his  hat.     In  Fleet  Street  Mr.  bollard  took 

riiamom     He  of  the  bushy  eyebrows  also  took  a  hansom,  and  re- 

niipoipd  the  drivei  to  keep  the  other  in  view. 

^  The  eader  tollowmg  the  directions  he  had  received  drove  down 

JouKh  fSchuich  Stfeet  and  Aldgate  ^o  Whitechapel.  but  ins  ead 

of  continuing  along  the  Whitecliapel  Road  he  took  ;''?,  Commercial 

^oTand  drew  up  at  the  corner  ot  Cannon  it:,cet  Road.    There 

S»  ia»  oab  M  depatWI.  Ue  phmgrt  Into  .  nm«  ot  '!"»•  l™g  I 

?M.  o?C»«non  Bireet  Road.  «"»» t' ''»™;S"'sS  "° 
n  Rtrpet  with  the  suggest  ve  nautical  name  ol   CaOle  o'^eei,  anu 

^Hi...Pii.ishv  brows  be  at  Ungth  reached  an  old  house  situated  in 

^t  „nrt  riirtv  rwiXsaV    Looked  at  from  without  the  house 

^reTtcfbe Scupferbut  the  solicitor  let  himself  in  with  a 


of  Selby   should 

Hjloyers,  t.nollier 
)ul  in  the  r eigh- 
ac8  and  tlic  liiiid- 
ot  tlin  hour,  uud 
m  iint'iisy  spirit. 

geullL'niiin  with- 
icli  were  quite  nf> 
liible  to  triicture. 
oruiunsin  of  the 
lies  ttud  nddresses 
ion  outside  their 
;,  b(!tore  they  hud 
1  South  KensioK- 
cted  to  this  most 
Uxji  began  to  take 
Otflce. 

r.  Pollard,  senior, 
and  had  nothing 
hv  eyebrows  was 
3  "Pollard  did  not 
QBtead  ot  turning 
to  the  Loi:don,  at 
ease,  lie  did  not 
who  seemed  more 
nzetle"  than  with 
that  capital  estab- 
,s  much  leisure  as 
lOur  and  a  half  to 
laries  Pollard  Lad 

Mr.  Pollard  took 
a  hansom,  and  re- 

eived,  drove  down 
chapel,  but  instead 
)U  "le  Commercial 
.cet  Road.     There 
ped  and  discharged 
1  emerged  from  the 
;  foppishly-dressed 
;ht  tweed  over-all, 
the  ortlce   now  en- 
formidable  green 
!S  from  the  brilliant 
s.    Glancing  round 
ize  of  lanes  lying  to 
mmercial  Road  and 
Cable  Street,  and 
Iged  by  the  shadow 
Id  house  situated  in 
without  the  house 
himself  in  with  a 


A    WEEK    OF    I'AS.giOX. 


117 


latch-key.    The  shadow  was  left  kicking  Ids  heels  outside  for 
twenty  minutes,  durmg  which  time  the  twilight  had  time  to  deepen 
into  darkness.     There  was  no  public-house  in  the  court  in  which  a 
mail  miglit  wldle  away  the  time,  or  improve  an  hour  which  was 
by  no  means  shining.     So  the  man  with  the  bushy  eyebrows  lit  a 
pipe  and  stood  with  his  back  to  a  dirty  wall  at  the  extreme  end  of 
the  iuclosure,  wlience  he  was  enabled  to  command  the  cloors  of  all 
the  houses  opening  on  it.     He  was  in  llie  shadow,  and  could  not  be 
ptjrceived,  though  lookimr  up  toward  the  moutli  ot  the  court  he 
could  see  perfectly  everything  moving  within  it.     Tlie  spot   liow- 
ever,  had  lieen  well  clio,<ien,  if  secrflcy  were  Mr.  Pollard's  object 
Dunne  tlie  period  of  our  detective's  watoli  onlv  one  human  bein" 
enteied  the  court,  a  woman,  and  a  few  cats  flitted  to  and  tio  payini^ 
their  evening  calls.     Presently  there  was  the  click  of  a  latch,  and  Ti 
person  emerged  from  the  door  which  Jlr.  Charles  Pollard  had  en- 
tered.    Glancing  sharply  at  this  individual  the  detective  saw  that  it 
•was  not  his  man.     lie  was  dressed  in  a  sliort  pea-  jacket,  witli  a  very 
wide  pair  ot  trousers,  heavy  boots  that  sounded  Uiiough  the  court 
like  n  pair  of  sabotn;  a  big  sou'-wester  covered  a  tangled  head  of 
hair,  and  a  painful  limp  seemed  to  indicate  that  this  mariner,  ancient 
or  modern,  had  fallen  from  the  tops  and  peimanently  injured  one 
of  his  legs.     At  first  the  detective  did  not  seem  inclined  to  move 
but  when  lio  saw  this  individual,  flourishing  a  big  stick,  turn  to- 
ward the  entrance  of  the  court  and  stump  away  with  a  good  deal  of 
vigor,  he  reconsidered,  slipped  quietly  along  the  wall,  and  after  he 
had  got  out  to  the  street  beyond  manatred  to  pass  the  tar  and  get  a 
glinii)se  at  his  face  in  the  full  blaze  of  a  public-house. 

"  Gad!"  he  said  to  himself;  "  1  swear  1  should  never  have  known 
hiin!" 

And  slipping  back  he  left  the  court  and  all  its  secrets  behind  and 
proceeded  to  follow  closely  the  limping  ultramarine. 

This  individual  stumped  along  quickly,  and  after  a  few  turns 
crossed  Cable  Street,  and  went  down  Mew  Gravel  Lane,  in  the  now 
historic  district  of  ^Vapping.  He  turned  to  the  right  of  this  lane 
into  a  fresh  maze  of  streets  and  courts,  and  eventually  reached  the 
■water-side,  where  stood  a  low  public-house,  dirty,  dingy  ancient 
rotting,  dropping  forward  as  if  it  were  going  every  minute  to  fall 
into  the  river,  and  from  which  proceeded  such  boisterous  sounds  as 
are  wont  to  come  from  those  who  go  down  to  the  sea  in  sliips  when 
they  are  primed  with  bad  spirits  and  befogge<l  with  the  blackest 
and  strongest  of  tobacco.    Then  he  went  in. 

The  detective  was  now  at  his  wits'  end  what  to  do.  He  had  not 
been  prepared  for  Mr.  Charles  Pollard's  surprising  capacity  of 
metamorphosis.  To  enter  this  marine  hostelry  at  that  hour  dressed 
in  tlie  garments  even  of  a  solicitor's  clerk  was  to  excite  suspicious 
attention,  if  not  to  court  certain  death  by  incontinent  administra- 
tion of  Thames  water,  whereof  so  little  was  consumed  on  the  prem- 
ises. He  turned  back  quickly  into  the  main  street,  wliere  he  had 
observed  a  policeman,  found  him,  explained  the  situation,  and  told 
liim  he  must  have  a  nautical  disguise  immediately.  The  policeman 
introduced  him  by  the  private  door  into  a  public-house,  wheie  he 
seemed  to  be  on  intimate  terms.  In  a  tew  minutes  the  dress  of  a 
drunken  sailor  was  on  our  detective's  back;  he  rubbed  his  hand 


Oh,  you 


^|g  A    WEKK    OF    PASSION. 

tresh  frnn.  ii  colhtr  '>»  «"    ";r'      , ,  (    ,„  i,s  ,|ay,  had  seen  al- 

the  Dutch  Ln^;-";i-,  'V*""f,^'fJedor  ot  nohlemniVs  castle  in  Iho 
most  118  much  muiuity  ns  t»>e  inttrior  or   i  ^^  ^^^  ^^.^^^^^j^ 

°li.lclU.  A^c.  The  P"/'f„'^"°,,t  MoIm  .out  the  top  ot  the  street. 
down  there  .ilone.  but  ^f  ,»f  ^,T,,ie  to  con.e  to  the  assistance  of  his 
an<l  upon  hearint;  a  ccri  in  wh..^lle,  '"  f"/  ;,  ^.e  daeciive  yctxs 
colleague  'n;>'^,;"l^;'[^;,'Lrn'n  having  a'rcvolver.  even  in  that 
'^reerl^Bpot.  co>'a  not  lend  him  one  ^^  ^^^^^^^^,  ^,^^ 

our  detective  knew  h  s  ^"X'ftereiinguinst  the  swinging  doors. 
Lugger  he  iliil  not  walk  in,  ^e  f'"KSert"    ^  brought  up 

and  almost  fell  lh'^«"t:^  '^'^"^  "'„*;  i'^Urr  eet^         the  door.    The 
sliaiD  bv  the  bar,  which  stood  only  i"y^«5 1"'"'  ,^^^■^^^   i,nve 

Sa'ce'  was  so  full  "^  t.^hA^tcTrncliied^to  miufrk  so  ordi^ 

Noticed  the  '?'^f  "^:;^'''f,,  vVlvnx-eyel  drab,  with  draggled   lafr 

beauty  1"  ,         ,      .  „,,  ,.._  „i,oul  two  ieet  wide  into  a  large, 

Ue  tumbled  through  a  half-door  alo^^^^^^^  ,^  ^,,.,,,,,  ^ 

low  apartment,  divided  ^Y  «^  P^^'eHf  all  nations  and  a  few 
'  considerable  number  of  ?«"\"""f„  I'^"  oking.  No  one  seemed  to 
miseiabl.  women  ^^-^^  "Jj^,  ^"S  -^'^VpSek  glance  from  beneath 
notice  him.  ^,^'"«''f  ?  V^"  u  in  Uie  whole  scene,  and  saw  his  man 
the  shaggy  eyebrows  '« '«' J  °  ,'^e%X.  with  a  broad-shouldered 
Hitting  in  a  box  at  /he  tar  end    t  u  e^ro  ^^^^     ^^^^^^  gyrating 

'  pasou  whose  back  was  "™M' [<^\^"'oath.  came  to  an  anchor  in 
cleveily  flown  the  room,  he.  w "'"^"^  *"  'ig,,.  There,  spreading 
theneltbox.  «»'«f  1  W>;"    «  ^e  "^^^^^^^  f„,  „  ,'b{e  he  let 

Srr^^^fairiSf  SpTover'L  Partition  at  the  half- 
'*^^" n?"Sl"K"  he  said  to  the  person  opposite  to  him;  "  he's  a 

collier's  ;eaman,  ^f^^  ^f^^Si^e  wS^slniclTby  the  man's  tone  of 
The  quick  ear  ot  the  "t-'icm^ «"»  :      j        ^^^  ^^  ptrscu 

voice,  accent,  and  manner  of  fPJ^jJ,'^  Saved  by  misfortunes  or 
of  cuV.uic  and  l-eeding  ^'  '^  J'^^^'^'^^^^^.^S  „eVas  not  one  of 
by  vulgar  associations.     .>  ^c         .  ^j,„  j,        ^,^^^ 

the  ordinary  type.  '^^ ^P"*",^  „„ „, 'Ljeiv.  He  expressed  himself 
brought  UP  and  '^ve  mixed  m  good  ^oc^^^^  „„^%e  vulgarit  es 
vvith  a  good  deal  o^  '•^'^^"?„,T^:,conversa  ion  contrasted  oddly 


er  bis  face  and 
ice  of  !i  penman 
liilly  rcluriu"!  to 
ay,  had  seen  ai- 
m's castle  in  lUo 
t  care  to  venture 
top  ot  the  street, 
iissistimee  of  his 
le  (leteciive  wa8 
•cr,  even  in  tliat 

iitcred  the  Dutch 
•  swinginfi  tloora, 
e  was  brought  up 
n  the  door.  The 
one  woiikl  have 
iniark  so  ordinary 
'ith  drasgied  hair 
liich  her  vocation 
served  this  incon- 


)lied.    •  Oh,  you 

,  wide  into  a  large, 
boxes,  in  which  a 
iitions  and  a  few 
No  one  seemed  to 
ince  from  beneath 
,  and  saw  his  man 
a  broad-shouldered 
r.    Then,  gyratitig 
lie  to  an  anchor  in 
There,  spreading 
,  for  a  table,  he  let 
nd-shouldered  man 
r  reason  that  it  was 
rlition  at  the  half- 

iteto  him;  "  he's  a 

V  the  man's  tone  ot 
ie  ihose  ot  tt  persc/ii 
a  by  misfortunes  or 
1  he  was  not  one  ot 
leak  who  have  been 
le  expressed  himself 
and  the  vulgarities 
ion  conlrasted  oddly 
Id  the  clever,  caustic 
ntlemen  to  substitute 
oranl.  .        ^    . 

iver,  rudely  disturbed 


'■<: 


A    WEEK    OF    I'ASSIOX. 


119 

by  the  young  lady  of  the  bar.  who.  approaching  with  the  hot  stufl 
he  had  ordered,  and  finding  her  customer  in  a  i)OSture  iudicaling 
that  previous  potations  liad  already  proved  loo  much  for  his  stabil- 
ity, hit  him  a  sharp  i«p  on  the  head  with  IHe  bottom  of  the  thick 
tumbler  containing  ihc  beveinge,  si)!lliug  over  him  a  quantity  ot 
boiling  liipiid,  whicli  certainly  had  the  effect  of  stirring  hmi  up, 
wiiile  she  cried  out  in  a  strident  voice  that  rang  through  the  room. 

"Now,  tlien,  you  boozy  blank  you,  don't  you  know  we  ain't 
allowed  to  serve  drunken  i)eoplc  on  these  premibes?" 

The  niiui,  though  he  hud  been  sharply  scalded,  gave  a  gnint,  and 
Said, 

"  1  ain't  d  d-drunk  a  drop  to-niglit,  vou  lying  old .    I'm  all 

right:"  in  testimony  whereof  he  took Vne  tumbler  from  her  hand, 
spilling  part  of  its  contents  Avith  well  feigned  tremor.  "  Here,  I 
say,  sweet  Polly,  give  us  a  kiss  before  vou  go."  And  drawing  the 
Jrowzy  damsel  on  his  knee,  he  administered  a  smack  which  sounded 
like  the  aiiplication  of  a  wet  swab  to  a  hollow  deck.  A  box  on  the 
ear  of  eipial  resonancy  followed  this  daring  exploit,  and  the  miser- 
able creatures  wbo  had  been  n-alehing  this  scene  laughed  uproar- 
iously, while  the  bar-maid,  having  taken  a  gulp  out  of  the  glass  in 
sign  of  a  cessation  of  hosliliiies.  marched  oft  with  her  hands  on  her 
hips,  giggling,  and  winking  to  some  ot  her  intimate  friends  as  she 
Avent  along.  The  man,  havim;  gulped  down  a  few  mouihfuls  ot 
the  liquor.  sufTered  the  glass  to  fall  on  its  side  and  empty  its  con- 
tents on  the  floor,  and  his  head  dropped  forward  again  heavily  on 
his  arms,  outstretched  upon  the  narrow  plank  which  served  tor  a 
table. 

This  little  scene,  which  had  not  passed  unixjrctived  by  the  oc-  " 
cupants  ot  the  next  box,  completely  dissipated  any  suspicions  they 
might  have  been  disposed  to  entertain  of  their  neighbor's  capacity 
lor  understanding  their  conversation,  and  they  continued  to  talk 
freely,  but  in  tones  so  low  that  the  listener  sometimes  had  the 
greatest  diflBculty  in  distinguishing  the  words  amid  the  drunken 
clamor  ot  the  other  guests  of  the  inn. 

"When  did  he  leave?"  said  the  voice  of  Mr.  'Cliarles  Poilard, 
pursuing  some  train  of  inquiry  which  had  been  interrupted  by  the 
entrance  of  the  sham  mariner. 

"Yesterday  afternoon,  in  the  'Guadalquivir,'  for  Galveston. 
He  will  find  his  way  from  there  to  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  interior  of 
Mexico,  and  thence  to  hell    which  is  his  ultimate  destination." 

"  Do— do  you  feel  quite  sure  ot  him?    Is  he  trustworthy?" 

The  other  laughed. 

"  You  can  trust  him  just  as  far  as  you  see  him,  not  one-hundredth 
part  of  an  inch  further." 

"  But,  good  heavens,  Yates—" 

"  D— n  you,  sir!  1  thought  1  told  you  never  to  mention  names 
under  any  circumstances!  In  such  business  as  ours  dead  men  listen, 
and  sometimes  even  talk,  and  drunken  men  have  ears."  He  got  up 
hastily,  and  threw  a  quick  but  careful  glance  into  the  next  box, 
from  which  at  that  moment  proceeded  a  deep,  stertorous  breathing. 
It  is  internally  stupid,"  he  said,  resuminir  his  seal  and  the  con- 
versation.    "  It  you  must  use  a  name,  can't  you  call  me  Thrupp— 


af;.*u>'.-: 


120 


A    WEEK    Ol-    I'ASSIOS. 


i«v'  —  .lift 

or  vvl.y  put  vour.eU  to  .l.e  inconvena.nce  of  naming  me  «t  all? 

••  Ha!  very  gom  •    i  ;^>„  °"^oClc.  wl.al  Ho  you  mean?    Surely 
;rhavfnot  irie^a'a-Tn^uaier  of  U.is  importance  to  an  irre- 

kponsilile  persou?"  „      , ,  ,j      1,,^^  }„  a  voice  of  rail- 

••  My  dear  fr.en.l  and  patron      sau  ^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^ 

lery.  -  is  not  my  nee  '"  ^^"g^-^^a^  ^i,^  n>c  stretcblng  ot  your  ele- 
•  to  l.e  better  tlian  1  ""»-"'  '„}"7?tei,,  my  l.osom  any  emotion  be- 
gan! collar-stump  would  ""  ^^'''['".Jtri"  ,^a  ^-hose  interest  it  was  to 
?ond  thai  of  renre  tbamml  \%,';Xx  my  own.  1  selected  this 
be  generous:  but  J, '''^;'^/""!^ '^-"erest  operator  that  ever  engaged 
rascal  because  he  was  \ '»« J'^^  ^^^^^^^  „„^  you  know  you  gave  bim 
in-m  the  kind  ot  business  «  '  „  Wl.v  my  dear  tellow  "-the  de- 
deuced  little  lime  to  d.  the  ob^^^  j  >„„r,,  ^i„ec  under  ibm 

lective  taucici  he  ^o"'^,  ,^^;,  [•  ti7n  he  guessed  that  the  speaker 
lamiliarity,  ""•>  ^'^""i  "'"  "Z^yuTihl^ <^o\iaXoT  by  constantly,  as- 
look  a  savage  I'l^Tirust  no  one  1  mean  that  1  no  mo.e  believe 
Burning  ll»^^»f-„,^„^'"'„a  faith  at  whatever  price  you  may  seek 
-  in  our  departed  agent  s  ??"^'  'f""' 'Y„  .i.osc  ot  any  other  man  who 
to  purchase  it.  than  1  do  in  yours,  «irin^  osc  may 

\lLi  a  lunatic  or  an  enthus  «st.  I'l^Xl^^^Ill,  „na  ,ood  iaith. 
ior  instance  had  fO'"«  *="""  H"jf^„  "U  ton  to  make  those  irregular 
or  you  would  n"\,Y,''Ji':\,;°u"bsunce  which  have  driven  you  to 
appropriations  of  ll'.'^^'' ?^,^''''':\^!.,  . '  "over  up  ycui  little  errois.  1 
8Wk  the  aid  of  a  scientd.c  f^^Pf  .  ^«  •^j^^.f^Xces.  When  1  know 
judeeof  a  n'an's  honesty   romc  ^"^cum  la  „j„.„n.^ce,  1 

ibathe.hasmore  to  lose^l^m  S^^^^l^^;;''^,,  U  qui^t  tor  the 
rme  Sonharyoro™baU  keep  ,uiet-it  is  a  matte,  ot  life 
and  death  to  him  to  do  so.        .    ,_c„p,aia_i  mean-aien't  vouV' 

'"^  fcVureS  •• 'replie.1  the  other  ';.l  - -S^-^jjlUS-;' You  don't 
u  :;^\Kig^r  of^tlirworJ'cvniri'Sp-  -d  the  broad- 
KciS  S  wm.  a  slight  inflection  ot  scorn. 

::  fwonieT^riiTe  it  then.    Sr^^^L^^inTtf  WoVfiUut 

tutor,  though  I  '^XJlTno^itZs  .p  ""dTwl  »>^  "'«  ^T'"'^^' 
this  genll*^^nan^'^°J^,°°^S  1  suppose.  1  «ni  sure  of  him 
quivir,'  somewhere  oft  the  LSpitVere  .icain.  He  is  at  this  mo- 
only  liicause  he  daren  tshow    ™   'f^  "&  tor-a-well 

meiit  aftectionatelv  being  '"^"""Lnri^.iiLfe  demise  of  a  lament- 
!^'o  explain  certain  circumstances  attetKli.fftl.edem  ^^^.^^ 

ed  old  'gent  in  H^ckiiev   a  sc  on^^^  Ih^^  ^^^  ^.^^  ,, 

pawnbroker,  wholefthshusiap  easilv-poitable  geins  he 

eel  ot  '«a'n°'"^«-'"  "In'^^^  re  rement  from  business-took  he 


» 

•if 


ming 


me  nt  all? 


try  not  to  torget 
oumean?  Surely 
)rlance  to  an  irre- 

In  a  voice  of  rail- 
1  ilo  not  pretend 
blng  ot  yoiu-  e)e- 
i  luiy  emotion  be- 
>  interest  it  was  to 
u.  1  selceletl  this 
that  ever  engaged 
now  yon  gave  liim 
r  tellow"-ilie  de- 

I  wince  umlev  lbi» 
a  llial  llic  si)eaber 
r  by  conutantlv  as- 

II  no  moie  believe 
|)rice  you  may  seek 
luy  other  man  who 
lain  noble  persons, 
itv  and  good  laith, 
lalie  those  irregular 
have  drivtn  you  to 
cm  little  errois.  1 
;es.  When  1  know 
ijr  my  conluleuce,  1 
keep  quiet  tor  the 
I  is  a  mattei  ot  life 

mean— aren't  vou?" 
bad  name '—ebV  Do 

le-aU-"  ,     ,, 

[oba»»ly?  "iou  don  t 
;e?"  said  the  bioad- 
n. 

.  not  going  to  act  tire 
ing  to  tell  you  about 
own  in  the  '  Guadal- 
1  am  sure  of  him 
n.     He  is  at  this  mo- 
)  police,  tor— a— well 
e  demise  of  a  lament- 
ot  .ludah  and  retired 
mlhs  ago  with  a  par- 
jly-poi  table  geina  he 
ni  business- took  the 
}ar<ien— vanished  like 
nds  either.    Unfortu- 
i  our  triend  tor  a  long 


o^-^ 


A    WKEK    Of    I'ASSloN. 


la 


time,  thongh  they  never  could  lay  liolil  of  any  direct  proof  ugnlnst 

hnn,  (lisctoveretl   that  some  one  answeriiiir  to  his  desctiplion  liad 

entered  llie  compartment  occupied  bv  .Mr.  Coiicn  at  Highbury  and 

they  resolved  to  arrest  him.     However,  he  hud  a  kindly  intimation 

trom  a  Irieud  in  l^cotlnnd  V'arcl,  and  just  csciiped  l)y  the  skin  ot  his 

teeth,  for   his  house— he  lived  in   a  small,  tletaclied   villa  in    tlie 

charming  suburb  ot  P'ulham— was  surrounded  bv  detectives  onlv  a 

tew  nnnutes  after  he  had  walked  out  ot  the  back  gate.     He  was  a 

devilish  shrewd  fellow,  and  had  ottia  irot  oil  seot-fne,  but  lie  told 

nie  it  was  getting  too  hot  for  him  in  England,  and  tiial  after  one 

more  big  roup  he  meant  to  levant,  but  he  would  have  one  ir.ore.     1 

never  saw  such  a  fellow.     He  took  as  much  pleasure  in  a  robbery  or 

a  murder  as  a  schooi-boj-  does  in  stripping  nu  orchard.     He  would 

commit  a  crime,  1  verily  believe,  siuiply  lor  the  excitement  and 

peril  of  the  thing;  1  don't  think  the  money  to  be  gained  ever  hal 

much  to  do  with  it.     He  once  told  me  liis  histoiy.     From  a  boy  he 

said,  his  main  pleasure  was  to  mystify  and  circuin\ent  anv  one  who 

hatl  any  authority  over  him— parents,  tutors,  professors,  police— he 

was,  in  tact,  a  born  criminal,  with  a  Jove  of  the  profession  for  its 

own  sake.     There  are  such  fellows,  you  know." 

A  shudder  seemed  to  pass  through  the  frame  ot  Mr.  Pollard  He 
said, 

"  Why,  he's  a  demon  I" 

"Well,"  said  ihe  other,  with  a  harsh  lauuh,  "  when  you  want  the 
devil  s  work  done,  you  surely  don't  expect  to  get  an  angel  to  do  it 
for  you?" 

This  remaik  was  evidently  not  palatable  to  the  chief  auditor.  He 
snorted,  coughed,  clearen  his  throat,  and  stated  that  the  smoke  and 
closeness  of  the  place  had  a  disagreeable  eflect. 

"  But,"  he  added,  "  who  is  this  man?"  '  ■       "-« 

"1  told  you,"  said  the  other,  "  tliat  1  object  to  mention  names 
He  19,  liowever,  a  German,  a  man  ot  good  education— graduated  at 
Bonn  -took  to  chemistry,  in  wldch  he  became  very  strong,  and 
might  have  made  n  tortune,  for  lie  is  immensely  clever.  iTany- 
body  could  have  discovered  the  philosopher  s  stone  or  the  transmu- 
tation of  metals,  he  was  the  man.  He  made  a  good  deal  ot  money 
in  a  legitimite  way— invented  some  fine  dyes-a  new  process  of 
bleaching— a  cartridge,  which,  1  believe,  is  in  use  now  in  the  Ger- 
man army— a  process  for  mi.xing  metals  .-.iid  producing  some  won- 
derful imitations  of  gold  and  silver;  in  fact  he  is  a  regular  genius— 
or  rather  an  irregular  one;  for  no  sooner  liad  he  invented  anything 
thiin  he  sold  the  patents,  rioted  away  till  the  money  was  spent,  and 
then  set  his  ivits  to  work  to  devise  some  new  sensation  in  chemistry 
or  crime.  He  was  a  Socialist  and  Anarchist  or  professed  to  be— 
tiad  to  cut  tor  his  life  once  from  Herlin,  where  he  was  mixed  up  in 
a  plot  to  kill  the  emperor.  He  liad  invented  small  crystal  bombs 
which,  when  broken,  would  send  forth  an  odor  so  deadly  and  pow- 
erful that  all  living  things  within  its  influence  perished.  Old  Kaiser 
\\  illiam   is  used  to  stinks,  for  he  lives  on  the  Spree,  to  which  a 

sewer  is  cologne-water;  but  this  would  have  done  for  the old 

hypocrite  it  it  had  only  once  got  within  reach  ot  his  nostrils  and 
midit  have  saved  Europe  a  ttood  deal  of  anxiety. " 
"  Bah!  my  dear  sir,"  said  the  othei.     "  Come  now,  that  is  rather 


,  ?-j^'i'^,^1?;-?>-'  *j'  '^ 


.;•*(■ 
^ 


WEEK    OF    I'ASSION. 


Wonliln't  the  stuft  btive  klllecl 


l5J!i 

_„_a  Utile  f/.'^jvv/),  isn't  It,  now? 

the  nmnufnctuier?"  ,.,„  ,nnnuf  acturer.     Allhoui-h  he  w^re  a 

"  It  very  nearly  tliu  Kil.  me  '"•";"'",,  tor  aupn) vine;  lini  with 

Sir  while  he  mn.le  his  ''M''-'""-'  "  f •  ^''.^.'on  ,  „«  a  hull  hev.ould  have 

::  ?^XU^J  Silt  con^ri^to^  w    e  ;  |a  c^  jo  .lo  t,,o  tr|d.. 

Thev  were  to  nab  the  emperor  in  lV^?'  ,",  the m  with  one  ot  liis 
teS''^  Our  mutual  frien.l  »''^'\«;''^|: '' ' ,  f  , !  r  eV,^clive  role.,  an.l 
crystal  stink-pots.  7»'ey  "»^'  "  "f /,^  Z'lin  his  lingers  when  it 
one  of  them  was  1";^^\?' f.^r/e  Inlent  reforuK-rs  wc.,t  the  way 
dropped.  Presto  "'Vj,!,  foUl  Wi^li"tn-a  proof  that  Providence, 
they  Intended  to  have  sent  o  d  \V  t^';'^"     ^  '     „„^  ..^a  ,i,t.n  wakes 

wl/o  seems  of  'f^V^^^XSw  s  disc  ox'red.  T«-o  of  the  German 
up.     That  was  how  tlit  P  '  ^^^^f  '  ',  .,     „aiis,  and  opening  one  o 

police,  in  «c'"-«''>°S  l^r..\T  ,  riolr^^^^^^^^  ^'"""'^^ '"  P'-''^l" 

try  it.  fell  victims  o  t»  "^, '■^fj,;, ,  ,'^,1  and  only  surviving  bomb, 
wio  would  «n(lertnke  to  anab/tthe^^  J^^  ^^^  ,l,c  evidence 

Our  friend  crossed  '>'«  *  °""r^^'"„,an  Uovernnienl,  did  not  succeed 
ngainst  him  was  '"^l''^'^^^^, ;,  ^.^..V  "ic  il^.s  uiven  the  :Nihilisls  many 
in  its  deman.l  tor  an  ^^t'^'  '^  l, ,,,  gUo"  some  of  Ins  damnaijle  pre- 
usetul  hints-they  have  ^yen  pubbsU^o^so  i„^,.n,ions  labor 

Bcriptions  it?  their  r^'J^'fl^^ ITZu^l-Ls  to  the  operators  that 

Sr :;?  £K^t  Sffl^s^^-t  it  did  ..  succeedascom. 

pletelyashemeantitto  3„„_contouud  it!    1  wisli  y?iv 

'  '  Confound  it,  ^^^-"^  ''^"  ..^f™  would  have  taXen  a  less  in- 
hnti  employed  some  oilier  "S^'nt.^  "":;',  j,(.  ,,,,3  only  excited 
genious'anfl  -n-.diona  —  '^.Zt^u  Had  1  known  it.  1 
|^,K^C^c!o:l:eu;,;d^'"  inyt>""g  -  "tteny  monstrous  and 

^^J^K  When  you  ^-  -S^^^S  "SJk  -^  o^K 
odds  does  it  make  »}°^„^^f, 'I'^^'lasl  hi«"\vilh  a  knife;  push  him 
head-shoot  him  ^•'  ' '^i  .l^'l^^.^Jt^  „p  with  nitro-glyce,ine-it 
SrcSrti;;:=  S  niflenmed  tr'lend;  and  that  tiun,  .s- 
"Sclid  not  speak  the  fatal  word  nJ-d^MtUie^er  listener  on 

th^oMler  shie  of  j^-^K";- ^fj'^o  £  helper  who  gave  a  kind  of 
caused  a  proioumt  e.noUon  1 U  e  o  ^^  ^^.^^ 

"  "Well.  1  will  tell  yon.  AYe  had  <»  >'»  '^^''^^^^J^^'ed  up  in  this 
a  cerValn  no.leman,  wbo  sh.dl  be  -•»/^^^'',i;V^,erbk  to'you  that 
business,  and  we  thought  '<  ^  o"'^'^ ^^^X'*  it  was  the  German  who 
he  also  should  '^I'a"^^^ '"lfP^.^'%ancv  to  be  cleverness  of  the  coin- 
ZS!:i;^K^^^e':i^^^^^'-  l>is  last  appearance  m 


A    AVEEK    OF    PASSION*. 


123 


stuft  have  killed 

honi-h  he  w^re  ft 
pjily'lng  liini  with 
n  pontlratt'd  into 
ill  hev.oukl  have 
irouijhV" 

IT  to  do  thp  trick. 

I  in  the  Thiergar- 
m  wilh  one  ot  his 
ipeclive  roles,  and 
lis  lingers  when  it 
lers  went  the  way- 
thai  Providence, 

iw  and  then  wake» 
wo  of  the  German 
nd  opening  one  to 
>  chemist  in  Berlin 
ly  surviving  bomb, 
id  as  the  evidence 
2111,  did  not  succeed 
thcMihilists  many 
'  livs  damnable  pre- 
le  inventions  labor 
a  the  operators  that 
L  saitt,  done  a  little 
lU.  This  last  stroko 
not  succeed  as  com- 

id  it!  1  wisli  yo*^ 
(ive  taXen  a  less  in- 
Ele  has  only  excited 
lliid  1  known  it,  1 
erly  monstrous  and 

ind  to  the  end,  what 
vnock  a  man  on  the 

II  11  knife;  push  him 
h  nitro-glyceiine— it 
;  and  that  thing  is— 

tlie  eager  listener  on 
it  was.  It  evidently 
,  who  gave  a  kind  of 
aid, 

^■'eiy?" 

iling,  you  know,  inat 
vas  mixed  up  in  this 
agreeable  to  you  that 
t  was  the  German  who 
cleverness  of  the  cona- 
his  last  appearance  m 


Lngliind  as  an  expert  by  n  B|)eciiil  and  Mijircine  t>^iir  ijrforrr  You 
remember  your  instruclious  simply  were  Itial  tiie  imrly.  you  know 
WHS  on  no  account  to  be  allowed  to  nieel  I  lie  other  niuiv.  Weil  we 
Lad  to  carry  out  our  inslruotions '-lliiifs  tlie  iilinisi-.  1  iliink  in 
fv'^n'A'M^"'".-','-"'".  ""  r""^"'  '"  «l'''"'^'  1'  «•«"''>  «""  -"U  e,,,i,il  V 
.  w  I  '  n  'Tl  ""'^  "■';■"  "^  ^"e*-'"'^'-  -^'"l  we  hit  upon  lliis 
ine  hod  as  the  bes  ,  bec.iuse  it  wasliuely  lo  be  iiiislnken  for  an  IribU 
oiitiage.  \\  asii  t  lie  earl  once  Lord  Liiulenaul,  or  Ciiief  yecieiarv 
or  some  lung,  o  Ireland?  Tl.e  plat-  wa.  to  gel  the  destructive  ,,: 
ell.  le  slipped  into  he  pocket  of  the  gentlemau  we  are  alluding  I'.l 
set  to  go  oil  111  half  an  hour,  about  ten  niinules  before  he  weiU  into 
the  houM,  of  he  other  parly-d'ye  seeV  Then,  to  p«ra,>hm  e  the 
no  vu.gur  o  proverbs,  we  should  have  killed  two'birds  with  one 
orpedo,  beMdes  enii.lymg  a  hamisome  urislocialic  hbiary  of  its 
books  and  furmture  in  less  time  llian  it  takes  lo  sav  '  Walker"  In 
laet,  It  would  been  u  case  ot  jioir  muiIc  n  hi  Unsi,,'-  d'ye  see?"  The 
explosive  was  of  his  own  inveiiti,.n.  He  told  me  that  it  was  ten 
times8irom:erl ban  uilio-glyeeriue,  and  that  u  machine  the  size  of 
a  watch  would  blow  up  Imlf  a  house." 

"Good  heavens!"  cried  Mr.  Charles  Pollard,  startled  by  the 
fright  ul  statement  which  had  just  been  made  to  him  in  a  (one  of 
quiet  lev, ly,  which  made  even  the  deleclive's  blood  run  cold  as  he 
'SS^.^^l^:^'^:^-'  ^-  "-"^  ^-e  blown  up^E^" 

;T£«^iKi';;r-J^^iS=,!!;^^ 

a  peer  and  a  solicitor,  is  there?  And  my  Gernian  being  «  8o  i.dist 
and  on  principle  opposed  to  an  aristocracy,  wished  to  vindicate  his 
po  itic.l  progranime  simultaneously  with  your  jirivate  one.  1  can 
tell  you,  although  for  your  part  of  it  he  has  carried  oil  such  a  nice 
heavy  parcel  ol  her  Majesty's  handsomest  coinage  to  soothe  his  dis 
appo.uimen  1  could  hardly  get  him  to  leave  the  country  he  Sg 
so  vexed  at  the  failure  of  his  combination."  '' ' 

I'  How  was  it  upset?" 

"Well,  you  see  he  was  watching  every  movement  ot  the-Ihe 
party  we  are  speak  ng  o  .    There  were  three  or  four  persons  eZaffed 
u  the  service,  for  there  is  always  some  uncertainty  in  these  opfra 
tions,  and  the  German  had  alternative  modes  of  doing  the  tn'ok 
iourtriend.  on  his  way  to  a  certain  square,  went  into  a  shon  in 
llegeut  Street.     Tue  German  followed  him.  under  prele"  se  o    ask 
g  the  price  of  something,  and  he  saw  the  showman  hand  out  a 
.tie  parcel,  tied  up.  which  the  party  put   in  his  pockt"      Our 
friend,  wh.,  is  as  quick  as  lightning,  immediately  saw  his  chance 
He  purchased  a  sma  1  object  la  the  shop,  which  Ihey  wiapped  ud 
n  then  own  paper;  it  happens  to  be  marked  with  their  nauiT  The 
party  was  detained  a  momem  having  his  watch  set  and  paying  the 
bill.    Leaving  the  shop  and  hastily  going  into  a  passage  nLr  bf  he 
German  set  his   ittle  machine  for  half  an  hou;.  wrapped  U  up  in 
the  paper  he  had  taken  ofl  the  object  bought  in  the  shop!"  n  1  Suk 
out,  beckoned  to  one  of  his  pals,  and  instructed  him  to  run^fter 
the  gentleman  who  had  just  coir.eoutof  the  shop,  and  was  goine 
up  Regent  Street,  and  say  that  he  had  been  sent   o  shv  they  lad 
given  him  the  wrong  parcel.    The  old  gent  was  sharp  euouS  and 


--'''^!« 


vu 


A 


AVKEK    OF    I'ASSIOX. 


lime,  anil  Belong  tlml  the  ie«uer  8  nui  j,^^  ^^^^  j,    ,    jj 

:^,ivt.n  iu  the  shop.  '"»  ,V.i^e    il  exS'lc  1  i„c-nui.urely-killc<l  the 

KTU  ,r  l^'^^ll-SJ^jrirSf?:;:  been  ahle  .0  lo,.U  »t 
The  aetoclive  could  ni)t  ""^ '"?,"•  rl.^u.s  Poll.ud.  ho  ^^ol.hl  h.ivc 
the  carefully  .lisir"«';'\'i^«,,"/i;-/£arlv  ,„intc.l  upon  i.    .vlule 
seen  that  horror  i.nd    "^f ''';,,^, ,;  ,na  stood  out  upon  his  tace. 

crent  drops  ran  down  his  f";'  Y'"' ""  '  ^ij,.,  criminal  had  sK  before 
^  The  cool,  malignant  <ynic.»n  of  lie  ow^^^^^^  ^^^^  l^^^_^  ^.^^^^^,1 

,he  solicitor  the  ^'IcUed  ^/^'^  °^,^  ^.f  hau  could  hav  ..eon  d..ne 
n  a  light  tar  more  clear  and  _''""^g 'teacher.  The  irank.  un- 
IVtUe'eftortof  any  mon.l.st  m  ^f  M^'^^^^HUcribed  and  gua  ticKl 
disguised  terms  n  « '»' V,  '' ^,,  eimrlcs  Pollard  to  iutirpose  those 
made  H/.l«o'l.V  17!'^  i\.!,;\.,£os  of  rdigious  casuistry,  form 
euphemisms  winch,  '"''*:,,',  ,,,,,,een  reason  and  conscience.  1  his 
a  sort  of  flimsy  pnP'T  »"'='^°,V„  '^fl  snoke  of  murder  as  if  it  were 
?,Xn  called 'a  spade  a  spade,  and  spoke  0^  ^^^^^^^  ^^  .^  ^„, 

reallv  to  be  considered  a     n°f  mf'  „,,. 'ninu  or  conse(iueuce.      Air. 
[fimd  ceased  to  have  any  moral  menninK  or  i    j    ,    ^  ,,y 

Charles  Po^ird's  soul  ««;!  ^"•n,\'";^,'^-,i£  TcJn^l  with  thosl^ 
nature,  or  vx-netrated  by  »"«'"^,  *  'i^^ana  refined  sensibilities  of 
Kh  prin.=iples.  those  piuesenlimenland^^  u„n8,„sed  through  a 
rifht,  truth.  bon«^""VS  Place  hecm.se  they  have  hecome  a 
man's  being,  there  hold  tlitir  P^^f^*-'  j^,^^  ^g  the  veliiclc  in  which 
mrtot  its  essence,  an^lenunt  mlcstrucumc  a  ^^  solicitor's 

K  contained.  Co«"!f ;  ."?,J^^  cuKed'"r  bi^^  prindples  tormert 
nmre  before  his  mind  had  bctn  c"'"y\7"  ,  q^  i,y  contact  with 
Sf  convert  with  ^1-  great  «p^ J  ,1^1^-  «-  governed  at 
other  young  men  of  .P"«V'^."  """. Vidit  duly,  and  morality  as  are 
°e^t  by  such  conventional  views  of  rifeUi,y^  ^^^^  ^^^  p^  ^  ^ 

current  in  every  p'»rn?^i'?rt\nona?  The  tirni  of  Pollard  &  Pollard 
a  very  Itirt'ff'^r^'"' «''^°l'Vi^ono  sense,  because  of  those  external 
atnotl  hich  in  Uie  profession  in  one  s^"°^' ,       „  r^i^^y  were  re- 

;«Suiwhichg>^'cagrea,^n^^^         Xve'suspicion .  a'nd  which 

^iarded  as  rich.  ^1)\''''^S  keeps  thousancls  of  men  straight  who 
otherwise  is  an  "ccult^n Uhnl  kee^JS  i.  ^^^_^^  ^j^„^        ^ 

have  no  natural  c<^"f  ff  SC'  ^c  don't  know  that  it  s  loo 
good  name  when  one  's  vvca   U)  .   ^  not  worth  while  if 

fynical  to  say  in  the  P'^^.^"  /'"'^to  be  sharp,  keen,  hard  men  ot 
one  be  poor.  They  were  k°o^"  !°  °^°  '^\j  'to  win.  When  law- 
business,  flindiing  'jff^'^XtS  a  rsped  akin  to  tear. .  They 
yers  get  that  reputation  they  '°n>'re^       1.^,^  ^,^,,,_  ^^4  iheir  com- 

'were  flrst-c  ass  »«'^5«'^t^i^'^,ijaSry  clerks,  knew  every  turn  and 
mon-law  derks   and  thtir  cuanctr^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^  ^ 

si'i:!^>s;iS,^i^"s:i^'T^'^^'''''  -*"  ■»•"« ""» 


;  wotilrtn't  have 
eel,  llie  machine 
)Oge,  prt'sgeil  tor 

0  outBiile  of  the 
the  one  he  hail 

ket,  ^samethii)); 
iirely— killed  the 
Iho  iluvil  woiiUl 

n  able  to  look  nt 
I,  he  ^^olllcl  have 

1  upon  it,  while 
pou  his  tiice. 

iml  liml  8<'l  before 
imi  l)c«m  engaged 
d  huve  l)et!n  done 
.     The  I  rank,  iin- 
Dcd  and  guulitied 
to  lutirposc  those 
lie  casuistry,  form 
conscience.    This 
uder  as  if  it  wmo 
ents,  08  if  tor  uim 
onsefiueucc.      Mr. 
r  been  imbued  by 
lulime,  Willi  those 
ned  sensibilities  of 
nnstused  through  a 
ey  have  become  a 
ho  vehicle  in  which 
ig  into  a  solicitor's 
9  principles  formed 

or  by  contact  with 
rho  arc  governed  at 

and  morality  as  are 
1  had  been  placed  in 
,t  Pollard  &  Pollard 
se  ot  those  external 
rm.  They  were  re- 
ispicion,  and  which 
ot  men  straight  who 
rth  while  to  keep  a 

know  that  it  is  too 
is  not  worth  while  if 
),  keen,  hard  men  ot 

to  win.     Wlien  law- 

nkin  to  tear.  They 
clerk,  and  their  com- 
new  every  turn  and 
,  be  made  of  one  firm 
e  affairs  cf  their  tel- 

English  law.  They 
on  which  made  them 


..,.,  j,^-. 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION". 


lU 


o       Slof'S,'''"  '"7'^'»n;'  P'-'»«"<--«l  udvun.Mgein  .he  profU 

tiie  slnurgic  with  n  consciousn.-Hs  of  being  at  n  disadvantam. 

fliin  v'nrl'T'  TT^'T-  *'"'  ^"V  .!'••''-'««  "re  inmlverl,.ntly 
airected  by  the  repute  of  Ihe  firms  (engaged  in  tiie  cases  tbev  liav« 
o  decide  u,,o„.  especially  af  .han.bers.NvI.ere  now  so  muh  of  The 

n  ^  Zv".  """"•  "";'  ^"'"'-'  "'•'  ^'■"'"^  •"  "'"  intfrlocutorv  proL  -d! 
h^gs  may  have  an  important  tnlluence  on  ihc  fortunes  of  a  »,ii 
TJierea  sunplustatenu-nt  mad,-  in  the  na.ne  ot  Poll  r.    ^  P.,1  a  i 

mheJ  fi.de!    '  ^'''^     "'*"'°  ''*"'  "  •i"*''^''  '''""  "°  "^"'l"^"  f^«'»  "''« 
It  must  necessarily  bo  so.     In  the  maiority  of  oases  Ihe  judirc 
WIK,  has  prne  iced  at  the  bar  before  he  sal  upon  the  bet,  h,  inowi 

thein  out.  but  he  IS  to.,  often  driven  to  make  a  liasty  generalization 
of  the  probabilities.     In  such  a  ca.«e  Ihe  stnn.ling  and  fZluZ^Tt 

M<^T'^irKr^T>^l'''^  "'-■♦"'•«  »'""  "r?  inevfiably'th^own 
,nl  .  .  ■..^''?  J'"'^'"  '"  """"«n;  he  can  not  help  it.  He  is 
unconsciously  biased  in  favor  of  respectabilitv,  and  i.^  i  ne  casM 
out  of  ten  justly.    The  tenth  man  is  the  victim  o/il  at  clmn^ 

w£S!.=.X;;EL^..:t.:Cet^^^^^ 
ri::s?'a.i]f.drutS";s '''  ^"^'"^^ '-  '-'^^  --'>•  •-  -^  '^ 

shiiwrwL"'  •'f  »«'■«''"'•«  «pce  ncfjuire  this  reputation  tor  sharpness, 
shrewdness,  and  success,  they  are  bound  tt  laintain  It.  Hut  they 
can  not  a  ways  be  on  the  right  st.le.  The  lar-esl  proportion  of 
affa  rs  vihieh  come  within  the  range  of  a  l.uwer's  practice  are  the 

Who„^'li?,?n"""'^''.*""'**""  '•i"  ♦'""-■'■  ^'"^y  *8  consciously  wrong, 
ins  .1  .vTn'n',",?  «'"ce'«'y 'desirous  to  know  and  to  do  what  is 
liist  they  generally  manage  to  come  to  terms.  Hence  Pollard  & 
Pollard  must  very  often  have  been  on  ihe  wrong  side  in  (l^eeve  ot 

reputation,  to  leave  no  stone  unturned  to  win.     In  such  a  case  men 
are  obliged  to  turn  over  many  ,ii,ty  stones,  and  in  doinA^nuist 
aUo  fTnST'wJ/r  ^'P'  """",""  '•^"  ^'^""  towel  otttir  repu 
so  bed  and  d  sappeur.     Now  and  then,  at  the  touch  of  a  chemical 
called  publicity,  they  come  out  again  black  and  foul  <^'"'™"<^"* 

«.^.^i  *  ^"l"*^  ^'"^^  "'"•■*'  character  is  yet  to  be  "molded  the  at- 
mosphere ot  such  an  oflice  is  not  the  best  that  could  bcselwfted 
It  IS  charged  with  injurious  inlluences.     Theie  are  no  urras    flal 
grant  immprallties.  but  there  a.e  all  the  daily  l.ourh"petirtriok8 

Z  ^ff"*"^  ""  '"  ^?'  •'^'^''"^'  «*  "'«  «"'«r  "W*  througuout  the  mo- 
longed  and  complicated  proceedings  ot  a  suit.  Such  a  case  ad- 
mit^d  to  bea  bad  one.  is  being  fought  s.moly  to  gain  tine^mot  er 
mL^rrnn?';?'"''  I^<»vu8  is  prolonged  to  force  the  poorer  to  a  "ele- 
ment from  sheer  want  of  funds.  The  directors  of  a  treat  railway 
who  have  deliberately  and  intentionally  charged  too  high  a  rate  tor 


u 


130 


A    WKEK    OF    I'ASSION. 


' '"tvf^Wt^^^ 


transport  ...  ,oo.K  arc  .1  >-|2' ^ ^^""..^1"''"^."" 
inaxlm  <.t    Ihu  E"K11«1'    >''^^„\'     :,  ,«  ^ Uo   ar  •  very  «hni.lu-. 

Hv  ll.e  tinu.  l.o  l.an  "''>'*''';,,''/''    '\;,,rnmlses  tl.u  .ase  K)  B.ive 

hin.8..1t  a  |li.a>;rmil.U-  ^•':;  ,'''f,  ;,,'',!  ,.ns  to  l.avc  very  ele- 
f„r  m.Mi  who  act  a«  ti.e  »K''"»«  '\'  ,';\  ['.'  ,  m  other  mailers  live 
va,(Ml  .noral  H.n.inu-nls.  iho,  s     "'^      "  ,,^^"  "    „  ,,ii„a  sido  on  the 

>vho  aiworhs  the  ""««'"■"•  '"SJ'.^BS^uh  (liseascs  the  germs  nmy 
cboleni  or  «  lyphoiil.  And  \'^\''l;^:  ,„,ver  nmuifest  itselt,  so, 
be  hurn.h'ssly  ahso.hed  a         V,  r^bh    be  >>  k'l't  l^^e  lived  and  died 

without  develop  ng  ^hc  nio  ..    '    ''  ,,1^  couilitlous  ot  develop- 

Z^:^:!^;^'^^^^    T^raisease  began  slowly  to  do  it« 

"t'bad  been  strncl.  in  .oinfi  -^SK'aci^'^TJh.U  ^t^Si 

ceased  Earl  ot  Tilbury,  by   "';  '  f  "^  S^'^'-charn.eil  and  dazed 

and  lucky  peer  in  bis  sPf*;"  ^'^b  \nS  ^va8  detaileil  before  bis 

bv  the  colossal  liguresot   »'-\*«'V''i„\'"^l^,e  carl's  combination  in 

eves,  coveiousness  entered  into  I'lf.^o  '';     '.,,.•",  ed  the   solicitor. 

u\e  Stockton  i"il«'^y  «»''''-f  .P^^"-""*^  "^4  a'sS^^  bad  been 

He  resolved  to  have  bis  part  in  '  •  JJJ"«^'  Mr   Pollard  in  p.otes- 

w^ell  Uei>t.  f.nd  which  was  o        ^^^^  "^^.'^^  °i  .^j  the  shares.     TI.ey 

Bh.nal  conlwlence.     "« '^""^' '',„lf  =;  ,Vli  t  at  an  immense  protlt. 

steadily  V   nt  up.      l*^.  ?o'' , '°"  'If'  ^j^  um,.  tbe  hook  caugbi  him. 

Baving  onee  b  I  ten  be  l>il  «^a  '  •  ...  /'a  ""hares  continued  to  rise. 

lie  bad  \.een  advised  to  sell  lor  a  tall    tnc  sua  „„vemcnt 

though  the  general  ?>^^f  Vr    Pinxton'went  on  unchecked.    The 
foreseen  by  the  carl  ^''^.^  .^.^ '"^g°  bb.^  tl,e  stock.     Thus  Mr 
American  group  were  g"'"^  f"^.i,f  ^'^^i  t;cn  made  acquainted  with 
Charles  Pollard  and  l^'«."°^j^";.  "  ^°  7o  „  1  the^^^  in  a  serious 

the  success  ot  the  ear  ei  ^^'  \V"'„«f- '7'""  (luantiiy  of  Stocktons, 
position.  Tliey  ^me  "  shor  ot  I'  "','^^^^'  ;\\  ut  Ibem  in  would 
l,d  were  effectively  f,'°  f^'i^o  Jwe  flgure  and  have  mined  the 
bave  run  Ihc  8ban«  up  o  a  n™8^^^^^^^  ^i  Ut  have  laia 

firm,  lu  this  extremity  the  i"""^^'  1  7^.'  '  ,,cv,.loi)(d  its  presence, 
dormant  through  a  long  and  s'|«*s^;"l /'/^  £,Xy  estate.  To 
They  •'  borrowed  "  the  «l'f  f„;''-27S'",^i^;''o'{  ue  executor.  The 
do  so  it  was  necessary  to  forue  the  "«"J«  "\  j^      Pdlard 

Sltcrnative  was  very  ^1^",  J-  dehtjed^  1  ,^^lhe  mud  and  be  danced 


r 


.■'> . .  .'" 


lutortuimte  mun 
)j:li  to  oredil  Uio 
vioiii;  witlioul  u 
•ry  simple; 

We  will  llglit 

.r  mri." 

ices  out  chiyilrlc 

<   tllU  (HSU  to  Biive 

H  U  not  possilile 
i  to  Imvu  vury  ele- 
olliur  iniiUt-rs  live 
1  blliul  silk'  on  the 
cret-n  svbicli  liUtes 
icrclmiils  who  ur« 

I. 

hllc  his  oUuractor 
111-  WHS  t'lking  In 
y,  Ihuu  the  vU^im 
i'hich  propiigtttc  a 
»es  th(!  gcTins  may 
nmuiffslitsi'lt,  so, 
Hive  lived  nud  died 
id  ateretly  1  listened 
dillous  o!  dcvelop- 
;nn  slowly  to  do  its 

lio  pupcis  of  the  de- 
•ess  of  that  shrewd 
;iiarn\eit  and  iliizcd 

detailed  before  Lis 
[Ill's  combiuulion  in 
Hilled  the  solicitor. 
>ret  which  Imd  been 
•.  Pollard  in  pioies- 
J  the  shares.    Tliey 

un  immense  profit, 
le  hook  cn»i!;hi  him. 
(iS  coiuinued  to  riae, 
fact,  the  movement 
on  unchecked.    The 
e  slock.     Thus  Mr. 
lade  acquainted  wliu 
•niselves  in  a  serious 
lantity  of  Stocktons, 
oujiht  them  I"  would 
1  and  have  ruined  the 
liicb  might  have  lain 
jvelopcd  its  presence. 
e  Tilbuiy  estate.    To 
if  the  executor.    Tuo 
thai  or  ruin.     Pollard 
e  nuid  ana  Oe  danced 
e  big  wigs  of  tlie  Law 


A    WEKK    OI'     1'A.SsrOV. 


I'v'r 


w.r      .  H     f  J'<^/1''«''    ""'':  'Ifnc.     Other  d.e(U  followed.     TliPy 

Tnrr  r  .      ,''r''  ^"■',"  "'  '''*  «"'"•  ^''-I'l'Ted  with  a  v.rv  sincere 

h"-,,       '"■"'■"';''  '7">' "'"'  '•""'•"'8«<'f  ll'o  munnorin  which 

iinnM         "f,'="f«"   "''"'.'«    whirl,    tlu-   8ollcltor-hm  principal- 

«o  m'l  -e'lr;     r"'    '?  7?y  !"'.',"  ""■  ^"^"■"  Wer  ol  ei.nhe'.Mtsm^  „„ 

80  miikc  1   ,,..  re  phlalahic  to  his  (jucMsy  conscience.    Not  tlinl  he  re- 

cre  tt.,1  w  mt  he  had  donc-it  hu,l  l.cM'n  done  .U.|ilK.rntelv,  as  ...  act 

of  .    wssily-lMit  ti.nt  he  could  not  yet  rcp.rd  it  with  the  cal  oi  s 

nddlcrencc  ...M.ibilcd  by  his  h.fi.mo.is  ,..,^',1.      Hence      s      JZl 

ad  almost  assuni.d  the  character  of  a  .nor„l  rca.-ion.     M,,  h  of 

the  moral  i.ul.i;,mti,„.  of  the  world  Is  of  i.l.out  the  »vuv  uualily 

thoud.  lycns.o.iMlly  it  „,uy  be  a  lillle  hi«h.T  in  .leL-reo.  '         ^' 

rhe  disfcniiscd    solicitor  could   not    help  exprt^sinL'  the   fcellnir 

""  '  ( 'aplaln-''  '"  "''  ^'"'■="'     "'  '^''■'''■'•''  '''>»  tluoat  ami  begnn;  ^ 

«„!' „«'■","'.'.'  ^';"t;.no«?    D-n  it,  man,  will  you  drop  your  infor- 
DM   nirecti.  Ion ?      'm  not  a  client.     If  you  do.^t  .'are  lor  you    „  "n 

Z'l    '      ^'\'\  ^  ''?  '"■■  •"'""•     1*'"  "'"^Kv  the  fellow  in  (ho  next 
ox  is  as  dead  drunk  as  a  ho^-hsl.cnd  in  bond.     Well.  wl.Ht  were 
joii  going  to  remark,  n.y  lny:eni(>us  (iu;,ck  of  t)iiiirrelsV 

I  his  iireverent  gibe  at  his  professional  honor  mid  dignity  seemed 

oortend  the  solicitor  more  seriously  than  other  re.narks  had  done 

which  were  simply  ,U  the  expense  of  his.  ...oral  character.     So  iUs 

Ih      V  vm1°,  mT''-''  """  '"V"  ^"'  "'•^"'"  ^^"''  '-■oo'l'lacency  jokes  at 
the  expense  of  their  personal  purity,  while  they  will  ,]«enlv  resent: 

inY  ■■'■    e'nt  .7  !"f  !-.""''"7'  ori^rofessional  orcommeS  staml! 
•^.'     '•«  """''f«s>«^«l  1>1«  "lispleasure  with  indiscreet  en.nl.asis 

devil  r'""  ^'°"''  ""'"'''  ''•  "'"'•  ^  "'■'  y°"'  ^•'"    '"°  *  P"fect 

v2J""*'  '"y.y^'ortliy  pal  unci  pufron-alliterntive,  don't  you  see? 
Never  nii.id  ail  In-  nan.es.  I  touche.1  yo.,  there  in  «  soft  p  act- 
eh!  Q>a,±oJOuan-,h!  II,.,  ha!  'Pon  my  wo.d,  liow  1  think  of 
it,  d-d  tfood!  Another  alliteration  by  G-!  MHio  savs  a  ninii 
mus  not  iMUgh  at  his  own  joke?  Ila,  1,;..  ha!  And  lookV".  m? 
worthv  pal  ana  patron-whcn  y„u  talk  of  me  in  such  terms  1 
should  like  to  know  what  the  devil  you  call  voursclf-ch?  There's 
a  maxim  m  your  own  profession-tl.ough  vou  don't  know  lie  das! 

C:%vh^t"  m^m;?o;e'r  i.:.'' ""'  ""  ''"'  ^  ^"''''  '  «"°">^'  '"'«  "^ 
FoT/ar.l^"'''''^'"  ^^^  ingenious,  and  quite  sufflcicnt  to  silence  Mr. 

iimfTil!^  i'!n."'?'%'°"°,"°^,  ""'""^''  ""-'  "stening  detective  judged 
xwiaf,*'  ^''"•'.."L''  \'""'^  '^'"^''  ^'^o''  ^eisxTcn  the  Master  of 
Arts  ana  the  solicitor  had  begun  to  produce  some  eflect  and  he 
hoped  now  to  obtain  more  specific  information:  but  the  sjeaker 
suddenly  becoming  aware  that  he  had  elevated  his  voice,  dropped 
it,  and  said  a  few  words  which  it  was  impossible  to  overhear  Tho 
detective     however,    thought    he   could    distinguish    the 'words 

Mr.  Charles  Pollard  now  also  spoke  in  a  low  and  earnest  tone. 


•<■' 


IM 


WKKK     ••!      PA^J^K'N' 


come  ilowu  willi  Uif  <l"'*i  •'  .^  wii.'/"/!     1  l'rou«lil  you 

^";S.;[Zr'  TriSy  tUirS-St'lo  .K.  content  wUU  thU  .or 
li;-'>S«rKS  Ki:"n^''A^^-^      io  ao  U.  or  are 

••  fJuppoMuK  yon  Ooii  I.'     sniti  "'^,  "",'•,,  ,,j.,ount  ot  tlic  whole 
:.,-  ..  Why   only  thl».  il|..t  n  .  tew  >'«"""* "J' X°Xy  will  be  jjlaU 

f^'  buBlnens  will  be  in  Ibe  >'"";«  "f^^^^^.^'J^^o  w  o'is  not  a  priacipH  . 

l  S:;^S'a"vi>ir  «UaS  S£la  'trcbbn^  wltb  emo- 

i  ""."JCv  well.    ^  ou  Hto-.ll  have  it  t"7°"7  "'«^M'expect  people 

e,ul  to-morrow  n'i!>'\;.  ""^  "''^^^Mnl  anil  seUle  It  U'cre.     Come 
i( Turr.™..  .....1 11»  evVnl.c..uy  m.m  »l  .  ,„„,  ,„ 


T 


—  It 


ic  cDiiltl  only  now 
ixilltc"- ■  i>i'l"l- 
liuovcrhcuiil  iiitie 

lou  HH  to  lUo  Wen- 

t  uwiiy  troin  llib. 
inimn  fricml  look 
,11^  out  |>iil»  wli" 
liwii  i»  titly  jol).  \ 
11.1  Yunl  to  unriivel 
cr  you'tf  really  lo 

,i,,<    1  lirouulit  you 

lilHflT  of  hOllKtlllUH 

iicrc  iiru  II  tlioiiMiina 
onleiit  Willi  ll»*9  *"» 

iil^cly.  ami  dropping 
11  of  Hinisler  mean- 
Ding  lo  tlo  it.  or  are 

ilh  a  suiUlen  tliisli  ot 

h  a  ferocious  latigh. 
i;.ount  ol  llie  whole 
10 ;  iliey  will  be  jslatl 
lio  is  not  a  priacipal, 
k  i>t  tiuarrol8.  Hiil" 
lior  upreail  over  the 
f.>r  after  u  pause  he 
ircmbliug  wUh  emo- 

nlgbt." 

I  ciin't  expect  people 
t  beggarly  hundnnls. 
jriit— and  no  backing 
rcsaive  geslure  for  the 

venue.  We've  met 
iiing  down  to  Oraves- 
B  'Three  Tuus't     In 

settle  It  there.  Come 
nv  triend." 
uliow.  who  hud  glided 
irators  or  by  the  spy. 
ched  the  broud  alioul- 
ilm  In  the  nri/ot  of  iho 
itlle  sensation  in  the 
ig  a  tew  sentences  rap- 
laway  to  the  other  end 

\c  end  of  the  street  tor 
lor  soniebiidy.    But  1 


uRj-^^ , 


A     WEKK     or     I'ASSfu.V. 


IV>!I 


a  ;v,.y  ,„  ,,t  r„„„.l  ,o  y„ur  ohlHo"  Mmn  "'[mI!I^  ■.    '"  '""  ^""  "' 

".....n, ,,  ;,;'T,;t; :  i:  ; ;;,.  ,,;;';•,"'""" ' '■,"•■  "» 

„.,  1         «  •      •'     '  '•   raril^     IIIIC      will  old    iron.  O  (1    rni/S     fiirnnnllna 

whero  tl,„  policninn.  hisrcrgUMrd  >m.h  »v,i  Inu  r  """i^uV  I5^t 
\u  rlUT:  '''^l'"^r5o8c..  poclu.led  Ihc  wlilsile.  a,  liWollow 
£  io,r.!:i',M' .'>'!''■'''•    ""^'n«n<'v"nln.u'eof  every  .loor'^.yopr 

mw  I  ■„  .  '"''*"'"'^.  "*'  *''.''»■  ''«  '"""".  "«  I'e  expecic  I  Hint  a  nar- 
ro  \  Ian."  Ifd  up  io  ilio  main  llioioiiKlifnro.  Tlie  frrin  of  on.,  mnn 
only  < ..uld  ho  dimly  discerne.l  at  tlie  oihe^  ei.    n bo.  t  Ihir^  vnnl« 

i.„  ,  *■  "''^"  ^*'"°'';  ""•'  >'""  "■■•*  '*  'If"*'  "in"'"  said  a  voice  whWi 
Le  recognized  as^thaf  of  Mr.  Charles  I'^ll.rd's  conipnnioD.    '  t 


'ilM 


130 


WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


wliisper. 

"McLaren!"  ,        ,,    .^q  lonc   knives   ■wore 

8lph,°lio  Wl '»  "■«  e'?"»'' '' °"'S;i  11,0  Diindpiil.  c«lmlv.    "  What 

know?"  

CHAPTER  Xll. 

A  CHANOK  OF  TACTICS. 

TnK  business  o,  the  ,reat  ^^^<^^  !^^^^^:^ 
on  as  briskly  ana  ie''^'"fi\y^.t.„7'Hke  t^^.^e^^^  i"  perpetual  tlux 
ana  messengers,  can  e  nd  ^  ;"^:„''';Vay  Iron,  this  great  and  busy 
andrellux.  »J""J-'\"K '°,  "^^fl'^i  ot^^^^  products  ot  legal  in- 
cenlci  ot  legal  allairs  heavy  J^^^^^f  ^f  ,,^,,0, .  notices  cf  nppi.ca- 
gen'Uty-writs,  Z'^^'^rZliSmi  io\\o  that  notices  to  swear  the 
lions,  notices  <"  f^^  '  'fl-^J'S.^on  Law  Division,  and  notices  m 
other  thing:  notices  in  '>'^  C"'"  V"^  court  of  Justice,  or  in  Bank- 
the  Chancery  r);vis,on  of  the  H^^''  ^°(\„„,t,.  interrogator  es  and 

ruptcy,  or  in  the  County  "^  \'''"    "-  5,^  ^,,3  s^orn  affidavits,  affl- 
answ^rs  to  interrogatorjes;  draft  atM^^^^^        .^  ^^^^^^,^^,  ^^  ,^^^^^^^^. 

davits  ot  service  »°^,  "°°„'l'^  fna  affl.iavits  that  there  were  no  affl- 
made  in  support  otallidavit8,i^^^^^^^  wills  and  drafts  of  wills; 

davits;  briefs  "V^^ttit  to  sStle  to  appear-for  counsel  to  ;tt- 
brief s  for  counsel  f' ^^'^'^f •  Jo  settle  J     u  ^  , .    ^^^^^^^^     j 

■end  and  consent,  for  co^nstl  to  niit  g,utioner  or  the 

counsel,  draft  documen  s  of  '^r\\y'^'^"  flutter  and  agitation,  all 
printer;  and  in  the  middle  o  ^" '■^^^ J^X^U  this  couie  and  go  of 
this  bandying  to  and  fro  of  P^^^'^'^^"  ^  ctorious.  beaten,  combat- 
busy,  eager.  '^"'''o^^^ii^ScS  crov^d  of  clients,  attorneys  and 
ive.  satisfiert  and  ^^'^fPf^X^^gTakiag  notes  of  every  scrap  ot 
clerks  a  small  ^not  of  employes  taK^fc  ^^^^^^^  ^^^  „ny  busi- 
paper  that  went  in  and  out  of  ^c^^^^^  ^^^  senior  partner  to 

ness  by  any  one  in  the  ™li8nmeni  .^  ^^j 

the  messenger  hoys-ot  everj  visit  aiu  .  j^J .         ^^  „y  to  be 

Lrefnlly,  minute  by  minue^^^^^^^^  ,.1,.„^  ..  P„- 

consulted  by  trained    "^^  ''S^"^*^' ];"  »"  a  lawyer's  bill, 
liculars  "  of  that  njasteri^iece  o  ^^  <^"fy;  l^J,  „t  ,^,,  partnere  in 
Whatever  agitation  ""g^;„'''f '"ri^n"     They  musi  receive  their 
this  Kreat  firm.  ^'"«\n';f^»;"',^,'f„Xrie88  proceedings  whi oh  were 
clients,  supervise  "'^^f/^^^  .intlvSStbemselveslnto  a  ta 
always  running  on  and  cons  a^^^  interviews  and  corre- 

devote  their  personal  »>^^'i"°rt  slmrn  clear,  cool,  suie-and  some- 


I' 


ired  up  tor  a  nio- 
irlunatc  detective, 
ildeu  fear.  Four 
caturefl,  an  1  sud- 
cried,  in  a  hoarse 


ong  knives  •were 
and,  with  a  long 

,  cnlmlv.    "What 
)r,  1  should  like  to 


'ollaid  was  carried 
id  solicitors,  clerks 
I.  in  perpetual  11  ux 
this  great  and  husy 
oducts  ot  legal  in- 
notices  tf   appiica- 
nolices  to  swear  the 
iion,  and  notices  ia 
lustice,  or  in  Bank- 
Interrogatories  and 
iworn  atlidavits,  affl- 
answer  to  atlidavits 
I  there  were  no  attl- 
and  dralls  of  wills; 

• for  counsel  to  ;it- 

oppose;  opinion  of 
the  Elationer  or  the 
Iter  and  agitation,  all 
this  couie  and  go  of 
ious,  beaten,  conibat- 
ients,  attorneys  and 
8  ot  everj'  scrap  ot 
devoted  to  any  husi- 
ihe  senior  partner  to 
r;  jottinu;  it  all  down 
ich,  by  and  by  to  be 
ve  the  golden  "  par- 
wyer's  bill. 

iBts  ot  the  partners  in 
ey  must  receive  their 
roceedings  whioh  were 
einselves  into  a  tangle^ 
1  interviews  and  corre- 
cool,  Buie— and  some- 
,t  ot  late  neither  of  the 


A     WKEK    01'    PASSION. 


131 


Messrs.  Pollard  Imd  found  themselves  quite  up  to  these  varied  re- 
<luiremon ts  of  their  troublesome  profession.  The  pas  few  years  ot 
^slbiV'T  ,';Tr"i''>""'-^^'''''  ^^''»'.»«'-t""«  ha*!  "Sed  them  bo^h  very 
Jai  1   •  "ov  *'.''■'■'''  """^  P!:°f'^9«io"'»l  brethren  liad  noticed  if,  and 

sai.t  l,ey  were  too  successful,  and  worked  too  hard,  .ludicious 
fri..H  s  lm,l  counseled  them  to  take  in   a  partner  or  par  nors  bu? 

pai  I  ner.      1  hoir  doctors  liad  warned  them  that  too  much  brain-work 

•  l-fvvn^f  n"'/-?'^'^'-^'^'  ".'^^  '*^"'°«  «  consumptive  patient  in  a 
shipwieck  that  it  will  injuie  him  to  swim 

Mr.  C'h:irle.i  I'ollard's  earlier  speculations,  when  he  had  taken  his 
n^n'^^'n'  •''«  P'^Persot  the  deceased  Earl  of  Tilbury,  had  1  .en  re 
markab ly  l,r.   ,ant  and  successful  in  their  results.     Ho  nu.ch  so  that 
estat.'  t\Zfl  '^   "'""  '.'"^  P'i'-'"«-'«-3liad  purchased  a  largo  bu.Mdin^ 

as  ,  W.0  InL vn'  P.T*''*  V^'V  •'''"^J'  ''^"«  «°  ""--'^  resl.urccs,  fo? 
as  13  ^vell  kno^^n  to  those  who  have  fried  it,  the  mollo  of  a  buildine 

nrnm  J'  '';","^  ''"'  ^'^'^'^'^  °^  "  «'""'!  P^"«'«-  •l"i<^'^  relurns  ''  Thf 
prohts  >  JUS   be  very  large  to  fill  in  the  blood  wl.ich  is  bein.r  drawn 

out  of  the  body  by  the  ever-sucking  leech  called  •' Interest."  and 
^uJ?lVu'''1  ?^""1  •>'  ^Pfcod  over  a  long  series  ot  years  And 
Messrs.  Pollards^  building  speculation  had  not  been  a  happy  one     1 

So^l,';^  '  ^""^r'""'  «'"*'^""''  ''°°^^"  """  "'«y  wereinteresteS  in  it. 
Solicitors  rarely  invest  in  their  own  name,  and  they  were  supposed 
to  be  acting  for  an  unnamed  client.  .Moreover,  encouraged  by  Ihe^r 
primary  success,  Mr.  Charles  Pollard  had  bouglit  a  handsome  but 
expensive  property  in  Kent,  where  amateur  hop-gro"ing  a^d  im 
proven.ents  and  building  had  swallowed  ud  what  amounted  to  a 

KmIi.  ur.ri  ^'";\'r"^''  •"•^^  '"•" "°^  '"^'^^ ""»  m  WsgambHng 
I    Copthall  Co.rt;  and  tiie  more  he  plunged  to  redeem  his  losses 

San.T' xi'lf  •"  T^  '"  /''"  """'^■'^  quicksands  of  the  Stock  E^I 
change.  Thus,  a  firm  whose  resources  a  few  years  before  could 
have  been  counted  in  hundreds  ot  thousands,  and  all  in  good  lands 
houses,  or  mortgages,  had  bean  reduced,  at  the  time  vvl^en  our  bis! 
tory  opens  to  tlie  most  precarious  expedients  for  keeping  their  busi- 
ness on  foot  and  for  answering  to'  their  engagemS  Some  o 
those  expe,iients  have  already  been  disclosed,  others  hinted  at.  From 
a  desperate  situation  to  a  desperate  expe.lient  is  only  a  short  ste^ 

flm  "Zl  "Ff  '"'  'A"''  .'"^'^  .""'  ^''^P^  Srow  long  and  quick     The 
?.,!?    1  '"'^^°.^"1'  shrinking  shame,  soon  changed  into  firm 
resolute  plunges  into  frauil  and  crime.  ' 

vVhen  men  who  l:ave  been  honorable,  and  respected  for  tliflir 
biBiness  Shrewdness  and  capacity,  become  crimTn'S  tbey  cS' 
otcour  p  into  their  criminal  conduct  all  the  qualitie^  which  cave 

work  they  turn  out  is  neater,  more  perfect,  and  finer  than  tha  ot  the 
vulgar  operator  All  the  acuteness  of  intelligence,  all  the  comVre: 
hensive  grasp  of  conditions  and  requirementt  allthe  untir?nTeu' 
ergy  and  quick,  constant  circumspection  wLi^h  m.ide  them  tTeat  in 

oHirMf  r   '  T^^  '^r  T'''':'  '"  ^"•"«-     1°  reading  t^SS 
of  the  Middle  Ages,  when  the  distinctions  between  crime  and  inno- 
cence  were  not  so  sharply  deflne.l  as  they  have  since  beconie  am 
the  greatest  men  made  it  a  study,  with  marked  success,  to  be  dis^n 
gmshed  criminals,  we  are  all  able  to  perceive  to  how  ligli  a  stand- 


■.  '■■■  ..'*/*> 


J32  A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 

„n  I  e  t.aincd  skill  in  V^^\\l^^'^'^^.£j,7 vMh^mv.s  of  judg. 
ll,e  shrewd,  >'«"/"""'"*='•  "on-irflne  as  we  have  said,  all  he 
menl  and  inflexibi  ity  ot  ""i'^^^-^ent  solicitors.  Add  to  this  the 
qualities  wl-ich  1""\"'«'\«  '^PJ^Xns  °^^^  their  lite,  their  prop.r^'. 
?erve  which  enters  l»  '  7"  ^'J''Vellow.men  are  in  danRer.  and  we 
nrid  their  standing  before  teire^^^^^ 

have  the  mukinc  of  a  ^'7  '  f"K  j,,*c  Mr.  Sontagand  the  Eail.of 

The  task,  therefore.  ^''''='' j'  ^'Sab    one.   ^-woable  dHains 

Selby  and  ««"'"««  ""y'^trifJ^olSuo  and  t..  hesitate  at 

3lili:rMd^o\^S;^l'^-^-^-  -  ^'^'  ^^''''  ''-'''' '' 

'"^KolJ'i^erview  with  the  -fj^^^^^  ^SS^S^I^^. 
tbiWiiy.  they  l'-\ ^^V^* rEu"^^  B.monua 

t^lX^^~Bi^--Si^^  earl  that  the  .lea- 

iraDoed  him  should  be  covcrel  "1^  «««  "^J"  ^v     dj  which  they 

heS  ves.  formed  a  very  e'^^ff^^f ,  fe  '^^^^^^  ^a  his  agent  by  the 

ima<'ined  had  been  crei.ted  »Jet«een  uit  J^^    ■    ,_agthe  peer,  with 

Suture  of  the  ^n^f.'^'^,^  '^^f .^u  U"-^^ 
rem  .rkahle  aculeness.  had  ^f «-  V'  '"jroublesome  intcrmeddler.     1  le 
fled  l)V  the  disappearancj  of  '"?f  .,.";^, 'Tjuto  the  business  at  the 
elder 'Barton,  tUey  knew    wu^.n^^  oduccd    nto^  g^,^^^ 

sneciai  request  of  the  Larl  ot  |  '""'^J  '  i,„n  ^q  letiise  the  nqucst. 
n'otifylng  them  tluit  1|^«  was  no  m  «  PO^g^rd  &  t^oUard  did  not 
had  bxptessed  !''«  ^'^^S""  a^  ''•  »^^  ddcr  Barton  wnen  the  earl 
know  how  the  at  itme  ass^imed  fj^^^^^  ,i,^     .^r  to  the   nter  vcn- 

made  his  contession  to.l''"",^^;! 'Td  go  much.  Besides,  they  v^ere 
lion  which  he  had  previoasy  dreaded  so  tmc  ^^^^^^  ^^^^ 

not  conscious  to  how  ?l^^"^  ""  SJes  amUbey  were  unable  ac- 
Seen  lowered  by  tueii  "'^  "«'  P["  ;!^^;'  tue  act  which  the  earl  had 
curately  to  measure  the  distance  b'-t^cen  u.c  ^^^.^j^  ^^^^^, 

commiUed  once.  «»'\''^":|iy/uuUnUn.dthei  other  delinquencies, 
had  incited  in  oraer  to  cover  «    »  ^  ^^^'^j,  consequences.  thU 

This  blindness  ot  crmiinuls  to  moral  i  ^^^^^^^   ,^  ^^^  ^.f 

iucnpacity  tor  m™«'V'"S  ^''^  'X"  ^tto   i^^^  ot  the  emi.e  nature 
the  most' salient  evidences  o    l»'SJi,f^°.8  suspicion  was  correct. 

eves  of  iustice.         .  ,        ,  „„  ,  .__,,„  .u^  cmi  did  not  catch  at  the 


b 
d 
d 

P 

al 

<1 

V( 
V( 

b( 
th 
m 
in 
in 

81 1 


A     WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


J- 1)0  elevRteil.  In 
lu.ve  mnde  crime 
iulelligeuce  Ibey 

arlous  opeiiitions 
.-Iwlge  of  law,  ftU 
nlmm-^s  of  judg- 
havD  saiil,  all  the 
Add  to  this  tlie 
ite.  their  pi  op^Tty, 
a  danger,  and  we 
ociation. 

ig  and  tlic  Eui  1  oi 
Twoahle  yilhiins 
1  and  to  hesitate  at 
\  justice  might  be 

lie  Bixlh  clmpter  of 
ritated  conterence. 
tbem.  Subtle  and 
ere  tlie  oDjcct  is  to 
jverylhing,  thai  at- 

earl  that  the  quea- 
fhich  they  hud  en- 

uufoituuately  lor 
J  breach  which  they 
Id  his  agent  by  the 
1- as  tlie  peer,  with 
It  be  would  be  gi'ati- 
intermeddler.     The 

the  business  at  the 
,e  Earl  ol  Selby,  in 
3  letuse  the  request, 
I  &   foliard  did  not 
Jarton  when  tlie  earl 
peer  to  the  interven- 
Besides,  they  were 
(vn  moral  status  hart 
Ihey  were  unable  ac- 
tt  which  the  earl  had 
be  crime  which  they 
■  other  delinquencies, 
id  consequences,  this 
9  of  others,  is  one  of 

ot  the  entire  nature 
uspicion  was  correct, 
•ound  in  order  to  see 
hey  thought,  by  the 
ion  to  veil  it  Horn  the 

irl  did  not  catch  at  the 
Be  had  suddenly,  of 


133 


h  s  own  motion,  releeled  the  idea  that  George  Barton  the  elder  had 
disappeare.!  witn  the  bonds,  or  because,  as  they  had  sucgested  hi" 
own  accounts  were  not  in  or.ler.  He  had  protested  afainst  that 
eJeyermoveo  theire- the  insertion  ot  an  advertisement  ofleriug  a 
regard  forinformalmn  and  for  papers  which  were  in  llieir  own 
hands  w.lh  the  view  of  diverting  from  tliemselves  a  suspic.^S 
ngninst  wind,,  as  Ihey  ought  to  have  rememl)ered,  iheir  sta  ding 
r.  r  .In'T'i'H'""  "'iV  '^  ^'''^'^}  guarantee.  Still  nior^  were  they  dia? 
turbed  l.v  ll.e  earl  s  proposal  to  offer  a  reward  for  tlie  murderers  so 

Znhoi^"?'  'n^'^^'  *''"'  ?H»'-g«  lin^'on  »'«'«  been  murdered? 
And  the  last  deadly  stroke  to  tlieir  self-possession  was  strucli  wheii 

irZ- VV'^'n"'"^'  "t  ''■'■  "  '•  ""^  i1"'nning  evi-lence  was  not  sup- 
pressed, tor  George  Barlou's  son  knew  all  that  they  supposed  Lad 
been  earned  alone  m  tl.e  breast  of  their  victim.  In  a.lvertising  ,« 
IZ  I?  .  °"''  ""'y.l"'"'  reckoned  without  that.  They  knew  the 
e  der  Uarton  was  as  close  as  an  iron  safe.  W  ho  could  liave  suspected 
that  he  would  make  a  onhdant  ot  a  young  man  twenty-three  year* 

«,.  ZV  ",  '"«"";n^'o'y"'l?  >l'e  character  ot  a  peer  ot  the  realm  and 
an  eminent  tirm  of  solicitors? 

"1  never  heard  ot  such  a  thing!"  said  Mr.  Joseph  Pollard 
tiemblmg  with  virtnoi.s  indignation."  "  Such  a  breach  of  confidence 
-so  unprolessionnl!    1  couldn't  have  believeil  it  ot  George  Barton 

llZ'  T\  ■•''■"'■",  '^  ""  '"®  ""  ''»*'  ^"^'<^!"  This  was  addressed,  ot 
course,  to  his  nephew  an  I  associate. 

There  was  no  doubt  whatever  that,  in  this  instance  at  least,  the 
d.mora  indmnationo  the  senior  partner  was  sincere;  and  very 
bkely  all  the  piotessional  brethren  of  3Ir.  George  Barton,  senior 
who  read  this  history,  will  consider  Ihat  a  st-rious  hlit  re^U 
ri?.  «n  .r^""'-^'-  .^p^<'"wepropoe  to  defend  his  conduct,  ex- 
cept  on  the  ground  that,  had  be  behaved  more  ciicumspectly,  a 
great  ueal  of  the  romantic  interest  ot  this  history  would  have  been 

wnTili^'**?"'""^™"'?®.?"  "^'^^  P^"  of  criminals.    Mr.  JosepU 
was  old  and  experienced,  Mr.  Cliaries  was  young  and  clever 

The  elder,  trained   in  the  old-fa.shioned  scliool  of  the  profession 
when  suits  pursued  the  quiet  tenor  of  (heir  way  year  at ter  year  and 
business  was  transacted  by  the  great  lirms  witii  a  certain  ma iesUc 

gnily  and  repose,  was  a  sound,  careful,  practical  lawyer,  rather 
disturbed  in  his  balance  by  the  new-fangled,  hurried  methods  of 
procedure,  but  cool,  accurate,  unimpressionable.  The  younger  had 
all  the  faults  and  characteristics  of  the  modern  school.  He  was 
(luick,  keen,  n  ert.  not  piofound  in  his  law.  but  making  un  for  his 
1«,;.'V.  "  ^'  ^^  ".P'd'ty  of  his  intuitions  and  appreciations;  a» 
versaiiie,  as  impressionable  as  a  poet  while  he  was  as  shrewd  and 
voracious  as  au  usurer. 

There  was  a  physical  difference,  as  we  h.ave  already  intimated 
between  the  two  men,  which  corresponded  with  llie  distinctions  of 
U^eir  character.  One  was  tall.  thin,  and  active,  the  other  was  ot 
middle  size,  square  figure,  and  deliberate  movement.  George  Sand 
in  one  of  her  books,  ;•  Le  Beau  Laurence."  makes  one  of  those  re- 
maiks  at  once  quaint  and  profound,  with  which  her  pages  are 
starred.  bhe  says:  Ce„.v  dont  I'aul  elendu  embmm  tout,  sont 
piantiqueg;  uu  contrmre,  ceur  qui  out  besoiii  de  regarder  de  piet 


'%i^,': 


K' 


•« 


if 

i 


184 


A    WEKK    OF    PASSION. 


P^wlwn  Air  riwirles  Pollard  liiul  dcscentlerl  upon  the  arena  ot  the 

one    bad    been  u  guurdsm!  n,  ^^at   'i    'an  j  cj.  'If'^;^.,^  ,vere  barris- 
and  commission  agents   /''^'^f,,^^l^  ""^,\\  o,eeks  who  had  dealt  in 


^ti^Vfll^^^^Jr 


t 
p 


si 

Cl 

n 
Ie 
t): 
ai 
It 
(It 

i'r 
se 
an 
pn 
pil 
so 
tb( 
cei 
his 


■:i£iiUJ&^~-'^ 


nrrieil  glasses  from 
lifiwU'8,  ami  it  wii9 
ty  of  objects  which 
A  always  had  heen, 
iwliichcamevsituia 
lie  was,  ns  Gcoi);e 
■tiling  wliich  came 
i\  hat  lay  heyond  it. 
orces  of  his  nciihew 
itly  pursuing  Is  one 
L-h  duly  thu  subtlest 
)le  wohI  "  money," 
jiitroller,  purchaser, 
Iciently  explain  the 
cct.     NVo  must  look 
ich  those  w  ho  uiake 
ml  the  key  to  this 

on  the  arena  ot  the 

ion  with  some  very 

he  jobbers  he  totmd 

11  pfotessions.     Tliia 

tliat    a    Dissenting 

There  were  liarris- 

l)ankrupt  merchants 

nders  ot  old  clothes 

eks  wlin  had  dealt  in 

-journalists;  a  jovial 

lore  lionotable  opera- 

ves!  but  lioUling  up 

jontaminnlion,  some- 

ilfiar  and  dubious  as- 

The  spots  on  one's 

and  the  clothes  make 

)ney  comes  and  goes 
won  and  spent  their 
le  establishments  at 
nvirons  ot  London, 
1  cellar,  imd  a  pretty 
Ihe  Mite  of  the  */«(- 
•tisies  "  and  actresses, 
in:plete  abandonment. 
l>nit  and  by  itself,  ex- 

whicli  surround  it— 
,vn  hiirher  anil  lower 
and  ideas  ot  morality, 
shly  emancipated,  liad 

obliging  broker,  and 
come  familiar  with  all 
ghl  into  contact,  from 
tor  if  the  demimonde 

its  other  is  clasped  by 


A     WKEK    OF    I'ASSIOX. 


135 


mmmms 

urcie  or  tolly  had  been  timorous  and  oirciiru'incct      rio  i.„,i  „L 
cS  anil  lll^Sn;^?^';^.^'^^^!^'  Yin  '-^-^  ^-n  S  l!"^. 

mmmm§ 


:t 


136 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOK. 


U 


V.' 


he  nlaved  rc-ulnrlv  at  his  reninlning  club  an.l  iu  two  well-Unown 
luloonraiul  innile  a  very  respectable  living:  in  this  way  alone,  llo 
aCssee  e  10  be  able  t..  coininan.l  pleiuy  ot  money  or  his  vices. 
UiXl,  tir"  treans  ''  were  nnvlbine  but  '•  visible."  He  T^■.;s  seen 
SSonX  at  Paris,  at  Nice,  at  Cannes,  at  Monuc...  raiely  playmg. 
EvH mti-rlous,  and  now  nn.l  then  at  Pt.th,  wlure  there  is  a 
«o%<r.rK  the  Ru  iai  Strasse.  wbtch  is  sai.l  lo  be  an  ulernatlonal 
nmr  or  ex  •  lanW  of  valiiables.  wl.ose  h.-klers  h„ve  private  reasons 
fo?  iot  one  V  exposi'ne  tluir  identity.  1«  fact  Mr.  Yates  was  one 
of  t^ose Tu rimis  nond.'scripts.  abounding  in  1-"''"";, :^; '«  ^f."^ 
the  outer  ed«o  ot  gentlemen's  society,  are  never  a.li  ut ted  to  b  t  ot 
flnvlonoraHe  woman,  and  are  treated  with  a  ccrlau.  toleration  by 
roLu°who  tecl  that,  if  they  are  xuxpeclib',;  there  are  no  actual 
moo  8  y.na  reasance  to  be  produced  auain^t  them      What  he  was, 

Sow  ver  irthe  intimacy  ot  private  *"''"'>?''7,J''«/^'"Cle"po  ' 
ready  seen.    Captain  Yates  was  the  companion  of  Mr.  Charles  1  ol- 

'"  Mr"  CharSlgmSof  the  tragedy  which  had  taken  place  a  few 
minuWVa  ter  ho  had  departed  from  the  captain  on  tt.e  previous 
S  L^  and  uille  imagining  what  grave  events  werem  picldetor  him 
Sfr  . '"  tl  e  1  y  tlal^nd  dawned,  arrived  at  his  offlce  in  somewhat 
Kt  ""siVims  Uian  he  bad  exhibited  for  some  time.  The  captain  was 
a"l.ar  nail  ''be  admitted  to  himself,  but  then  nothmg  was  too 
dear  w  icli  assu  e.l  to  Pollard  &  Pollard  immumty  from  ruin  and 
the  ImnLman  He  .lid  not  grude  eight  or  ten  thousand  pounds  for 
that  Schubz  was  out  of  ti.e  reach  of  the  police,  another  good  job; 
for  If  he  lad  ben  caught  on  the  other  charge,  lie  was  quite  capa- 
ble o  frying  trarrange^liltlebaigain  lor  gentleim^ 
«n  condition  of  disolosing  the  plot  against  Mr.  Barton  The  in Iss- 
?nVrino nmcnts  were  In  the  wine-cellar  of  his  country  house,  at  the 
bouom  Tlds  oK  Wn  o'f  port,  which  looked  as  if  it  had  not  been 

^^'nut  mI  ChaX  did  not  find  his  more  sedate  uncle  and  partner  at 
«n  in  f  humor  to  share  his  superficial  content.  On  'hecontraiy. 
Mr  loLpl  Pollard  looked  atrabilious;  and  as  to  the  weather  inside 
with  iShe  barometer  was  do«n  to  "very  stormy  "  .He  had  beea- 
rellM  iuL'  With  all  his  specialist  intensity,  and  in  the  limited  ciicle 
rtlSKical  vision  evervthing  looked  gloomy  and  threatening. 
Hi,  ni^rwere  blue  and  tiembleil  as  he  spoke,  lie  had  come  in  a 
Hide  Klian  his  nephew,  who  was  busily  rearting  the  morning  s 

iolresS^ideJ^^^^^^  *»  ^^'"^^^  ^«  C'^'*"'*  "  ""^''  ''^''' 

^"'  Chadie  •'- Kid.  "  there  is  no  use  concealing  from  ourselves 
that  we  are'iu  a  very  perilous  position.  1  dare  suy  you  are  rlght- 
t lose  teMows  „re  safe  enough  simply  because  their  heads  are  in 
pawn  S  is  not  where  our  danger  lies.  We  made  a  gr«at  m  s- 
tX  n  issuing  that  advcrlisement  before  we  had  committed  bdby 
to  it.  Now  where  are  we?  Young  Barton,  the  eail  W  fnows 
€vervlhing-it  old  Barton  tol.l  him  on?  thing,  he  to  d  l"ni  all.  Ue 
Tnows  abiit  the  dealinc  witl,  the  sharea-a  bad  business.  Charlle- 
rheTSng  of  all  our  troubles;  he  knows  about  the  receipt  pofl- 
llblvhas  it  in  his  possession;  he  knows  almiit  that  hundred  thou- 
^nd  pounds  thoufcdi.  thank  Heaven!  that's  arranged  for.    xNow. 


iu  two  well-Unown 
Ihis  wuy  iilono.     llo 
money  for  Ills  vices, 
l<lc."     Ho  T\n8  eeen 
iiico.  rnitly  pliiyiug, 
th,  wlure  there  ia  ii 
n  l)c  iin  iulernniioiuil 
hiivc  privnte  reasons 
I  ^Ir.  Yates  was  one 
.omtou,  who  live  on 
r  ailmitteil  to  that  of 
ctrlain  toiernlioii  by 
there  are  no  actual 
lem.     What  he  was, 
p  tlie  render  has  al- 
I  o£  Mr.  Charles  Pol- 
ar! taken  place  a  few 
tain  on  tlic  previous 
fere  in  pickle  tor  him 
lis  office  in  somewhat 
le.    The  captain  was 
lieu  nothinj;  was  tco 
lunity  from  ruin  and 
thousand  pounds  for 
ce.  another  KOOd  job; 
;e,  ho  was  cpiite  capo- 
eiiilemanly  treatment 
r.  Barton.     The  miss- 
count  IV  house,  at  the 
1  as  if  it  had  not  been 

e  uncle  and  partner  at 
nt.  On  the  contrary, 
to  the  weather  inside, 
ormy."  He  had  been- 
d  iu  the  limited  ciicle 
omy  and  threateniuK. 
Le.  He  had  come  in  a 
earilng  the  morning's 
harles's  naWe  report, 

cealing  from  ourselves 
ire  suy  j'ou  are  right— 
;se  their  heads  are  in 
SVe  made  a  great  mis- 
j  had  con.mitted  StU)y 

the  enil  says,  knows 
:,  he  told  him  oil.  He 
)ad  business,  Charlie— 
about  the  receipt,  pos- 
oiit  that  hundred  thou- 

arraiiged  for.    I'Tow, 


■•!) 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


187 


you  see,  even  if  the  earl  had  been  willing  to  kwp  silent  about  tho 
"nature  ot  those  documents,  provided  we  had  made  the  loss  good  and 
covered  up  all  these  Iranhaclioiis,  young  IJarlon  won't  allow  it  to 
remain  (piiet,  because  l.e  will  want  to  clear  the  old  man's  memory. 
The  police  will  be  down  upon  us  ut  once  for  a  list  ol  thcnt— 1  won- 
der thev  haven't  been  here  for  it  already— then  Ibey  will  go  to  tho 
Countess  ot  Tilbury  for  explanations,  and  then  tho  whole  business 
is  out.  We  shall  have  to  explain  tlie  transactions- the  Clirl  won't 
hack  us  up-he'll  square  it  with  the  Tiiliurys  anil  let  the  cat  out  ot 
the  bag.  Ot  course,  his  character  will  suHcr,  but  what  is  that  to  a 
peer  of  the  realm,  especially  when  those  most  interested  will  do 
everything  to  bush  it  up'if  Then  we  shall  be  asked  to  explain  tho 
theory  we  have  put  forward  of  George  Barton's  disappearance  and 
embezzlement.  It  will  be  hinted  that  it  was  our  intcreiit  to  gel  rid 
of  him  to  cover  up  our  own  defalcations — " 

"  \es;  but,  my  dcnr  uncle,  what  evidence  Is  there f  You  are  go- 
ing on  a  nuuiber  of  hvpotheses  which  are  far  from  jirobable.  Old 
Barton  had  that  receipt  in  his  pocket-book  —  murk  my  words. 
Whatever  he  told  young  Barton  about  us  is  not  evidence.  We  cuu 
easily  explain  away  that  matter  of  account." 

"  Possiblv.  But  the  shares— the  ccrtilicates.  H  the  old  man  told 
liim  about  t'liat.  he  can  get  the  evidence  ot  the  forgery  and  the  trans- 
fers from  New  Yoik." 

"  Huml    There  is  something  in  that  " 

"  Tliere  is  a  good  deal  in  it  I"  cried  the  olil  man,  pettishly.  "  It '8 
the  very  devd,  sir!  That  fellow  Sontag  will  probe  the  whole  busi- 
ness  to  the  bottom." 

"  They  cant  get  any  proof  tliat  we  had  anything  to  do  with— the 
—hem-" 

"  No,  they  may  not  be  able  to  do  Ihol,  but  is  it  not  bad  enough  to 
stand  in  the  dock  on  a  charge  ot  forgery,  Charles  Pollard?"  the  old 
man  almost  shouted,  while  the  perspiration  started  trom  his  brow  and 
glistened  on  his  pale  ince.  "  1  tell  you  we're  in  a  trap,  sir— in  a 
devil  ot  a  mess— and  1  think  the  sooner  we  can  get  a  few  thou- 
sands together  and  get  out  of  th'.s  the  Iwtler.  Ah!  1  believe  my 
old  grandmother  was  right  after  all.  She  was  always  repeating 
that  old  saw,  *  Be  sure  your  sin  will  find  you  out.'  " 

"  Bah!  my  dear  uncle,"  said  Charles  Pollard,  thoroughly  alarmed 
by  the  evident  breakdown  of  this  strong  man's  nerve  and  spirit. 
"That  is  only  true  of  the  weak  operators.  Look  at  all  the  men  wo 
know  who  are  at  the  top  of  the  tree  in  the  Cilv!  Do  you  euppose 
they  all  got  there  by  a  strict  adherence  to  the  Ten  Commandments? 
That's  a  proverb  out  ot  date— never  was  true,  I  believe— certainly 
ain't  in  these  days.  Hoos  avong  clMiiryay  loot  seta!  It's  not  quite 
80  bad  as  all  lliat  yet.  Let  us  consider  wlnt  we  realljr  have  to 
meet,  and  try  to  find  out  our  exact  position.  Lord  Selby  is  not  go- 
in<;  to  risk  letting  the  cat  out  of  the  bag  in  order  to  save  the  reputa- 
tion of  a  deceased  agent.  That  was  all  moonshine — his  threat  to 
otter  a  reward  for  the  discovery  ot  Barton's  thingumraies,  you 
know.  Suppose  he  does?  What  odds?  We  can  always  double 
theii  bids.  No  one  suspects  us  ot  that.  As  to  the  shares,  until  we 
know  positively  that  young  Barton  is  possessed  of  that  information, 
it  would  be  madness  for  us  to  act  upon  the  suppoEitiou  that  he  is. 


J  '' 


4'- 


jgg  A.    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 

Barton,  on  prelunsc  ot   l'«'PV'»  ' '"  J.'^.  w«  cKa.i'-h^ 

''°"t;:;i'what  about  the  8bare  certificate?"  said  Mr.  Joseph  Pollard, 

^''.^;  S^lSSKl  "C  i^down  in  .l.e  ^.o^cellar  at 
HiJX...    ^V..afs  the  t..r,ej    There's  "" -J-  f.V'o  «to S 

1  can  catch  tl"*  "P^'f P'^T^if,  ^  "oo  down  to  th'e'  Westminster 

Keno\ZtStran"^i'dire^,'^W^^^^^^^^^^ 

look  at  those  letters  before  yon  j-o.  and  sc"  >  h  note  at  once  to 

police  withdrawing  the  a"*^'-^'^?'-'"^" ;. A  rocset 
And  the  youngeY  partner  went  ofl  like  a  roc  set. 


■  cn AFTER  XIU. 

A  VI8IT.-MB.   SONTAG'S  THEORIES    ON  SOCIALISM  AKD  CRIME. 

Weary  as  he  was.  and  worn  out  by  excitement,  grif' "°f',f  f  ^^ 
nfV^tGeJfree  Barton  found  it  impossible,  when  he  had  lett  the 
ZJ^o  St  the  activity  ot  his  brain,  which  continued  to  work 
lilh  thpSiveanrt  feverish  monotony  ot  a  telegraphic  inBlrument 

TmoBltat  environed  l.ta  »nl.  lias  ^lU.ry  Deacon  Sle«"««  '"i' 
S  5«  none  IM,  lat  ofl.  bnl  .UU  «»W,°^'»'"!  *;'°btaT.,no  y  «- 
Vl"  «»"  "S"'"  W"  tliongUle  curiied  to  Her,  «°"  J"' ""  L'.ot 

S;!?e' JeT^-IJS'Si "pLlST  iS  hi  ".^^^^^ 

=r  Ere„..^"f  SSy-lUSfnrof^ff-S^^ 
w  considering  his  own  situation,  the  darkness  only  seemed  to  grow 


A    WEKK    OF    PASSION. 


189 


■ovc— unless  Raiton 
lie  iuto  our  i)08»t«- 

we  must  3fC  yoiinc; 
lliu  probleni  of  his 
■gaii!"— he  snapl '«-'«! 
•f  Tnr  earl  objei^ttMl 
ulviTtiseineul!  He- 
,  luspeclL'd  thum  on 
ision  he  took  them 
Qi;  a  miips  ot  docu- 

safe!  We  thouirht 
a  be  able  to  sqneeze 
)  the  papers  auii  the 

Mr.  Joseph  Pollard, 

lHoufll  harm  is  done 
re're  all  right.    The 

comes  here  to-day— 

In  the  wine-cellar  at 
>res»  at  10.30.  I  can 
;raph  to  Tom  to  meet 
Ic  gCM's  like  the  wind. 
(•  betore  2.00.  Look 
1  to  the  Westminster 
ir  lunch.  Just  take  a 
a  note  at  once  to  the 
ft!" 
;set. 


[ALISM  AND  CUIME. 

ment,  grief,  and  want 
when  he  had  lett  the 
i\\  continued  to  work 
jlegraphic  instrument, 
us.  tie  had  seen  and 
hrlUed  with  the  elec- 
jh.  Amid  the  somber 
beacon  gleameti  fair 
me  taint  lays  ot  hope. 
r,  and  his  memory  re- 
t,  every  glance,  every 
le  tone,  the  accent  ot 
ious  interviews.  The 
le  lost  himselt  in  these 
I  to  those  realities,  re- 
Dg  on  his  father's  fate, 
IS  only  seemed  to  grow 


more  and  more  profound  and  impenetrable.  He  was  a  joun";;  man, 
but  one  ot  cxlraordinarv  power  and  lesolvc;  still  he  vainly  strove  to 
shake  (,IT  llii-  dismal  iiinucnces  which  dosed  In  upon  bin  soul  with 
denHCHMd  MilTocalinK  elTwa,  simtling  out  every  prospect  of  happi- 
ness. Si>  (liuailful  did  the  darkness  appear  all  round  the  menial 
horizon  that  he  would  fiiiu  have  shut  bis  eyes  to  it  and  ceased  to 
thmk  at  all.  I5ut  that  was  not  possible.  Like  the  anxious  mtirinci 
lie  felt  obiii.'1'd  to  strain  every  sense  in  order  to  discover  some  way 
out  ot  tlie  liorrible  oUscurily  by  which  ho  was  surrounded.  Jlis 
interview  with  the  Karl  of  Selby,  while  it  sliowcd  him  more  clearly 
the  position  of  the  roclisand  shoals  among  which  he  was  navi«ating, 
only  served  to  involve  him  in  thicker  clouds  of  doubt  and  emliar- 
ras.s.iient.  The  iiaiiiful  dilemma  to  wnlch  ho  had  hitherto  en- 
dearored  to  shut  his  eyes  was  now  sharply  defined.  To  vindienle  Iho 
memory  ot  bis  father,  as  he  whs  determined  to  do,  was  to  ruin  the 
earl,  and  strike  a  blow  at  iiady  Blanche's  happiness  and  jwace  of 
mind— the  maiden  whon;  he  hopelessly,  hut,  as  he  knew  by  llio 
pangs  and  pleasures  of  his  heart,  madly  loved.  There  seemed  to  l)e 
no  ndddle  way,  and  eacli  ot  the  devious  courses  seemed  to  end  In 
darkness  and  sorrow.  Ilow  coidd  he,  he  asked  himself,  sacrifice 
his  father's  memory  to  insuring  his  own  happiness,  were  tliat  even 
open  to  himV  And  willi  all  the  Illusory  liopes  love  whispers  or  en- 
genders his  reason  warnc«l  him  that  was  out  of  the  question.  The 
satisfaction  ot  hi.s  desires  could  not  be  attaine<l  by  treason  to  the 
supreme  commands  ot  duty.  Had  he  been  a  religious  man  and 
Iheretore  a  casuist,  it  would  have  been  whispered  to  Ids  soul  that 
mercy  is  better  than  judgment;  and  he  might  have  found  an  excuse 
lor  avoiding  the  discharge  of  an  unpleasant  duly  by  a  sacrifice  ot 
truth,  of  justice,  and  his  father's  honor.  But  he  was  too  well 
grounded  in  the  pure,  clear,  simple  ethics  of  nature  to  be  led  astray 
by  old-fashioned  scliolastic  sophistry  of  that  kind. 

Tlien  if  be  turned,  and  simply  glancing  along  the  other  course, 
caught  a  glimpse  of  llie  :lread  certainties  to  which  it  conductetl— the 
innocent  Buffering  with  the  guilty— the  l)elo(red  one  tinking  to  the 
earth  under  an  intolerable  burden  ot  shame  and  sorrow— can  any  one 
wonder  that  he  shuddered,  averttd  his  eyes,  and  shrunk  from  the  pros- 
pect  opened  up  before  him'?  A  few  hours  since  he  had  seen  lier  in  all 
her  queenly  beauty,  proud,  but  tender  and  sympathetic— and  that  to 
him!— unconscious  ot  the  heavy  clouds  which  were  hanging  over 
her  father's  liead,  that  lofty,  unstricken  head,  clouds  charged  with 
the  flames  and  bolls  ot  justice;  and  there,  by  a  strange  fatality,  he 
to  whom  she  had  spoken  words  of  comfort  and  kindness  held  it  in 
his  power,  and  deemed  it  to  be  his  duty,  to  do  an  act  which  would 
luiike  those  clouds  discharge  their  ruin  upon  those  she  loved. 

'•  Oh,"  he  crietl  out  alouil.  as  he  i>aced  his  room  with  uncertain 
steps,  "  it  is  a  horrible  dilemma.    1  think  1  shall  go  mad!  ' 

And  a  horrible  dilemma  it  was.  The  ghastly  paleness  ot  his  face, 
the  hollow  sinking  ot  his  dark  eyes  in  their  sockets,  and  the  nervoua 
contraction  of  his  hands,  seemed  to  verify  his  fear. 

Morning  had  almost  dawned  (for  him  as  tor  her,  each  keeping  a 
late  and  troubled  vigil)  before  he  calmed  down,  and  overcome  by 
physical  weakness,  threw  himself,  dressed  as  he  was,  on  his  bed. 

he  was  aroused  from  an  uneasy  slumber  by  a  loud  knocking  at 


140 


A    WKKK    OF    PASSIOK. 


r 


A 


1  •  i„, ,.  n,.  I'liinroil  III  Ills  watch.  It  was  nroily  ten  o'clock. 
Ub  t  . ulre"  u«S^J  c,il  I  eiu'lit.  nn.l  He  w.«  vexed  l«  .l.l..k  th.it 
;  c  I  1  ivo  S^  I"  vnin  .m.t  l.ccn  ohlif?.;.!  to  ro  aw.iy.  I  ..w- 
^v»r  X.o  ulln''  thiit  she  hu.l  rcl»riu..l  in  the  hope  o  rousii.«  hin  . 
ropeiieM  ll!-cloor,  his  hulr  and  dress  lu  .lisonler.  his  eyen  hhK,d. 

''tnTchlur'uyton  was  st«n,lin«  outside  with  the  laundress. 
T^i.tli  their  fiices  showed  con8ldera\)le  anxiety.  >  .    ,  i  ■„ 

•'  \Viiv   L'.od  Kracious,  Barton,"  cried  the  youni;  lotcl,  seizing  his 
hand  a    I'wrU  glng  it  with  tremendous  ener.ry   "  \  „e.er  was  more 
,  ..^  aL  v,Vii  in  mv  life  thouL'hvou  never  loolied  worse!     Ihis 
glad  to  see  y()u  in  my  lire  in  u^.^  Unocl;in^'  for  more  than  ten 

£..r""ve'    erc'sT.le\i'rsmSiinK  had  l^ippened  ,o  you,  and 
"S  just  Roing  to  ««•■«.»  tor  a  porter  t,,  hreak  n,  your  door,     ^ou 

"?.7M^r.hinr-'sai"'B«.ff"'"dld  not  get  to  l.d  till  f.vo 
o'cA':anf;^.^"ser'''h;y  down  just  as  I  was.     You  Unow  how 

*'°V^I^^  }>  ZiM  Charles,  as  he  put  his  arm  throu«li  his  triend's 
lifJaiPrious  reason  which  ho  lias  not  oondeseen.led  to  t'Xpl*'".     This 

think  his  conduct  to  you  has  been  perfectly  ridiculous  and  inde- 

*^"*Mv(lear  fellow  don't  think  so.    There  was  a  misunderstand- 
ing S  U  has  all  ^en  explained.    No  one  could  have  heea  ...ore 

"''irwUU^llrtrju.iice'o  say  that  he  told  me  «>  very  frankly 

Ite'aar  ThcTaineUrnK^KoluK     your  poor  father 
Tn.  hIenThe  Vict  m  ol  an  infamous  crime.    1  never  heard  ot  such  a 

B^w^aal  «1.",0«  takloB  h»fS.r<.  .ml  teverten.    It  i.  e»OUBl, 
""•■"LSS'lflm'oDl.  kn™  .n  you  would  woM»  my  1...^  «« 


nouily  ten  o'clock. 

VOM'il  tolliiiik  tllllt 
to  no  awiiy.  How- 
pe  of  rousiiii;  him, 
(lor,  liis  cyiiH  l)loo(l- 

(vlth  the  liuiiiilress. 

ing  lotd,  seizing  liis 
"  I  iw.ver  wa8  iiioru 
Bokod  worse!  Tins 
for  m(>r(!  limn  iim 
ippiMiwl  to  you,  mill 
ill  your  iloor.     \ou 

gel  to  l)€cl  till  five 
IS.     \  ou  know  how 

lhrou«li  his  trieml's, 
sorKc;  '""'  1  should 
[lers,  >;iven  lor  some 
led  to  expliilu.  This 
ht,  tuul  tlmt  llio  em- 
's ball,  fiave  mc  suuh 
mind  to  see  you  thfl 
with  a  shiUinK,  foi  1 
lidiculouB  ftiid  indc- 

,'88  a  misunderstand- 
luUl  have  been  more 

i\  me  80  very  frankly 
n  hi"»  repentance.  1 
iiovc'd.  But  what  in 
'ahiri,  of  Eleusis,  and 
er?  What  does  it  all 
hat  your  poor  tather 
never  heiird  ot  such  a 
No  one  ever  spoke  a 
1  the  earl  -mysterious 
Hamlet  or  Macbeth, 
o'clock  this  morning, 
sverisb.    It  Is  enough 

wonaer  my  head  was 
St  ions,  lean  tell  you 
is  dead  beyond  doubt; 
ler  and  1  are  agreed  in 
;  present  they  are  only 
iusllty  our  mentioning 


>•  ''k  ' ' 


.*?! 


kppointment. 
know,  1  came  here  to 


A   \vi;kk   ok   l'A.•?!5lo^f. 


Ul 


offer  you  my  servitei.  It  i.s  a  Rrciil  inisluUc,  let  me  tell  you,  lo 
shut  voiirsfff  up  in  thin  way  and  nmst!  ynur  troulilcs  In  secrcl. 
■\Vbut  is  the  good  of  ii  trtend  it  you  drm't  iin-  him?  I  lull  you,  vou 
must  let  iiu!  help  you.  Open  your  hiiirl  frcfly  to  nio,  my  dear 
fellow;  am  I  not  i'uhh  (iiit/ijiu.iiiimiiii  nmi  mibiiii  luuii'iix  irriim  itiniii 
liiiiiitnvf     You  can  Iru.sl  me  iis  it  I  were  your  own  brolhur. " 

The  moisture  which  spruiij,'  into  the  young  niau'^i  eyest  as  bespoke 
teHtilliil  ti)  the  sincerity  ot  his  words.  Ocorge  Ihulon,  agitated  by 
u  seiisii  (it  the  cliaraeier  of  that  secret  wldeh  Ibe  young  lonl  was 
urging  him,  in  thu  sincerity  of  his  triend.xhip  to  i)crnilt  him  lo 
bbaie,  and  deep'y  movtd  by  the  brolherly  frankness  ot  the  appeal, 
still  shook  liiH  bead,     lie  could  not  trust  himself  lo  speak. 

"  Why,  look  here,"  continued  F-ord  CharleH,  fumbling  about  In 
his  pockctH,  and  at  lengtli  e.Mraeliiig  from  tlmt  of  his  waistcoat, 
along  with  pome  crumpled  bankimte^  and  gold,  a  tiny  piece  of 
paper,  a  slip  liaslily  lorn  oil  liie  lly-leat  ol  some  note  ot  invllatlon, 
"  HIancli'J  is  Ibe  most  s(•n^il)le  girl  1  ever  nu't— no  end  of  a  bead.  1 
would  so(*ner  take  her  advice  iliiui  that  of  any  man  1  know;  and 
besides,  she  has  ii  very  high  opinion  of  )'ou,  let  me  tell  you;  says 
you'll  be  a  very  disiinguislied  nu»n;  and  she  spoke  about  you  last 
niglit  with  real  anxiety.  What  tlie  deuce  Is  the  matter?  Are  you 
in  pain?" 

"  1— I  hau  a  kind  of  spasm  here— hero  in  my  heart." 

"  Well,  I'll  tell  you  what,  Gforge,  my  boy,  this  won't  do,  you 
know.  You'll  get  knocked  up,  you  know ;  and— and.  It  you  don'tlook 
out  you'll  be  seriously  ill.  1  shiill  go  straight  from  here  to  Sir 
Alfred  Marks  and  tell  him  to  call  and  sec  you— yes,  yes.  lly  Jovel 
you  know,  it's  time  somebody  came  and  took  you  in  hand.  You 
are  simply  killing  yourself  witli  worry  and  anxiety,  shutting  up 
your  griefs  in  this  way,  wilhln  your  own  breast.  No  wonder  you 
have  spasms  in  your  heart!  Look  here,  George,  1  tell  you  I'm  not 
going  to  stand  by  and  let  this  go  on." 

And  the  young  lord  rose  and  took  a  few  distracted  steps  about  the 
room,  while  he  flourished  thcvtiny  bit  ot  |)aper  In  bis  fingers.  Ho 
wanted  to  hide  the  emotion  which  was  swelling  his  heart. 

"  Don'l!"  cried  George  Harlon,  in  a  voice  choked  with  anguish. 
*'  1  assure  you  1  am  not  ill;  1  am  only  troubled  and  excited.  1—1 
will  tell  you  all  1  ouiiht  to  tell,  Layton,  but  don't  press  me,  my 
dear  fellow.  It  is  enough  to  see  you,  to  know  that  you  sympathize 
with  me.  1  teel  better  now.  VVhat  were  you  going  to  say  about 
Ladv  Blanche?" 

"Oh!  ah!— yes— 1  forgot— well,  look  here.  1  was  saying  Blanche 
spoke  so  anxiously  about  you  last  night  that,  after  the  earl  Lad  given 
me  a  liiut  at  breakfast  to  come  and  see  you,  1  sent  a  message  up  to 
her  room  just  lo  say  I  was  coming  here.  I  knew  she  would  like  to 
know  it,  and  she  sent  me  down  this  little  slip.  8he  says— now  listen 
to  this- though  she  is  a  girl,  she  talks  like  a  book: 

"  '  So  glad  you  are  going;  poor  fellow,  he  needs  a  strong  and  able 
friend  '  (that's  her  gas,  you  know).  '  Get  hiut  to  open  bis  heart  to 
you;  nothing  relieves  sorrow  or  trouble  so  much  as  sharing  it  with 
a  really  sympathetic  friend,  lie  can  and  will  trust  you.  ,  My 
iraimest  sympathy  and  good  wishes,  Blanche.' 


Xi 


I 


142 


A     WKF.K    OI"    I'AHMOK. 


"  Tliore  "  conllmiwl  the  vounu;  lord,  <iiimpllnH  up  llm  •Up  of 
pnpcr.  iin.l  laltiiiK  H  «lrop  "P""  tr."  floor,  from  which  OcorK'o  Hurton 
coulil  h.iraiv  rHfriiin  fiom  hiMiintly  HUiUrhiiiK'  It  up.  '  rUut  h  whut 
Bliiiichc  HHVH-wrllten  Ilka  n  feiniili'  Seiitcii.  1  ooultln  t  Imve  cx- 
prciHiHl  it  Imlf  »»  well.  1  lull  you.  Now  ih  It  not  common  mua'l 
Ami  cm  von  not  Inisi  mf.'  Aiul  niiiy  1  not  help  you?  Como. 
Ueorcc  1  like  vr)u  loo  much  to  li'iivc  v<>ii  IoIIkIiI  out  nil  Ihii  itjrriltlo 
I.UMncHH  iilom!:»ml.  it  m.cNwiry.  wr  II  pi  her  to  help  m  o-.  ihe  wly 
1  cull  lu'i-  the  tiuccn  ol  Slichu,  von  know,  bociiudc  ihc  tjui-.n  of 
Shclm  WHS  I  believe,  thctmly  womiui  whoever  miinHMcit  u^  Hiunip 
t'olomon  kiiHil,  he  wouldnl  have  Imd  any  chance  with  the  women 
If  ho  hnd  llvcil  In  IheHU  ilny»  ot  Girlon  ond  university  uxanis., 

'  'Tids  Inlter  lellection.  which  it'emH  out  ol  pliice  in  so  serious  a 
moment,  wns  nilher  a  thought  uileied  iiloml  thnn  ii  lenmrk  nd- 
dreuMMl  tothehenrer;  hut  Lord  flmrleH  wiis  yonuKer  Ihiin  Ihirtou, 
and  his  humoi  which  hiul  some  ot  the  cvnioid  Ihivor  ol  the  earl  h, 
was  as  yet  not  pcrlectly  tmder  hm  control.  Harlmi  did  n..t  notice  the 
inconirniity.  l-ord  Chnrless  ^Kxlwdl  was  so  jrenulne  iind  cordial, 
his  tone  and  manner  so  full  of  sympiilliy.  that  those  thoughtless  in- 
lornolations  did  not  destroy  the  eftecl  of  his  more  serious  words, 
which  hosldes  had  a  lorrihly  special  ami  esotoiic  t()rce  for  poor 
GeorjtP  In  GeorMo  Harlou's  liearl  just  then  there  h»il  suddenly 
L'ushedout  a  bright,  pure  tounlnin  ot  gladness,  lie  kept  his  eyes 
on  that  precious  morsel  on  the  tloor.  over  and  around  which  the 
vounn  lord's  varnished  slices  were  ihincinR  as  carelessly  as  11  it  wore 
n  spoiled  cignrettepaiHjr,  while  George  wns  burning  to  press  it  on 

'*'"  8lu\own!^Lavt'on-over  here,  pleas*.  Now  let  me  talk  to  you 
frankly  I  <'an  not  thank  you  lor  this  visit,  and  your  kind  words, 
Rml  your  sister's  message,  simply  because  my  heart  is  too  tu  1  to 
allow  mo  to  express  myself.  Vou  must  not  measure  the  depth  of 
mv  anprcclatlon  oi  this  act  ol  Iriendsliip  by  the  extent  ot  my  con- 
fldences.  It  is  simply  inlinilc.  1  tell  you  solemnly,  and  wish  you 
to  tell  Lady  DIanche,  that  there  are  jjruve  and  insurmountable  rea- 
Boni  why  1  should  not  just  now  take  your  advice— and  heis-and 
share  the  troubles  and  the  fearful  anxieties  which  weigh  mc  down 
with  the  two  most  generous  and  sympathizing  hearts  that  exist 
within  the  circle  ot  my  ac(pminlance.  The  same  good  feeling 
which  brouKhl  you  here  will  lead  you  to  accept  this  from  me. 
What  I  may  tell  you  1  will,  and  it  will  be  a  relief  to  me  to  have 
Toiir  sympathy.  Believe  me.  that  1  know  ot  nothing-unless  it 
liad  been  the  return  ot  my  poor  dear  father  oUve-nolimigtliat  could 
possildy  have  given  me  so  rniuch  comfort  and  solace  as  this  visit. 

The  two  young  men  exckmnged  a  hearty  pressure  of  the  hniul,  and 
remained  silent  for  a  minute.  Then  George  Barton  related  to  his 
friend  so  mucli  ot  the  previoua  circumstances  as  was  known  to  the 
Boiice  and  as  bore  simply  on  the  question  ot  the  identity  of  the  in- 
dividual who  had  died  in  Regent  (Mrcus  with  George  Barton  the 
elder  He  did  not  hesitate  to  tell  Lord  Charle«  that  his  Identity 
having  been  established,  he  should  consider  It  placed  beyond  doubt 
that  Ills  father  had  been  murdered,  and  should  use  every  effort  to 
unearth  the  authors  of  the  crime.    But  while  these  brave  word* 


..^.^jfct^^n  u-z:Lf~. 


linH  up  llu!  •11|)  of 
iilch  0('or>;o  lliinon 
up.  "  TLiiI'h  vrliut 
I  ooultln't  liiive  «x- 
not  comtuon  8(>iuu? 
t  help  you?  Conio, 
I  out  nil  lliiiuirriblu 
;)  lii'lp  iiH  o'l  I  lie  «ly. 
•IIU8C  llic  t?U('tn  of 
•  iniinHjiCMl  1(1  Hluiiip 
ice  Willi  lliu  woiiieQ 
university  uxaniB., 

I  lice  ill  so  serious  a 
limn  11  lenmrk  nd- 
iiinKcr  lliiiii  liiirton, 
Miivnr  (it  the  citrl'H, 
i>n  illil  not  nnlice  tho 
licnulne  iinil  cordial, 
.lie!*e  llioiightlesN  in- 
niorn  senniis  words, 
eiic  torce  for  poor 
there  h«i1  suddenly 
».  lie  kept  his  eyei 
il  nroiind  wtilch  the 
iirelettsly  tis  if  it  were 
irning  to  press  it  on 

w  let  luc  talk  to  you 
id  your  kind  words, 

heurt  is  too  tull  to 
leuHure  the  depth  of 
le  extent  ot  my  con- 
inmly,  nnd  wish  you 
inHu'rniountuble  rea- 
vico— uud  heis— nnd 
liich  weinh  mc  down 
ng  hearts  that  exist 

giiinc  >iOod  tceling 
iccept  tliia  from  me. 
relief  to  me  to  have 
it  nothing— unless  It 
e— nothing  that  could 
oliice  as  this  visit." 
isurcof  the  hand,  and 
Barton  related  to  his 
as  was  known  to  the 
he  identity  of  the  in- 
Ih  George  Barton  the 
rles  that  his  identity 

placed  beyond  doubt 
Id  use  every  effort  to 
ill)  these  brave  word* 


A     WKKK     OI'     f.V.HHION. 


IM 


bv  t 

Kliii: 


WMro  on  IiIh  tongue  liN  voice  Ireinltlcil  ami  his  heart  sunk  wllhlii 
hlhi.  Il<'  liiiil  Huld  llioiil  itclllieliilelv.  lie  wlHhcd  In  kt'i-p  his  rtHii- 
liition  llriii.  to  lorce  hliiiKelt  to  adhere  t')  the  )iri'i|(>lerinliieil  line  of 
m:tl(in,  !<•  sirenu'ilien  hi«  resolve  by  eiiiiiirlating  It  In  one  ol  those— 
who  would  convey  It  lo  annthtr — who  inusl  lie  the  deepcHt  HulTerers 
till' I'xccutioii  ot  that  iTKolve.     Iliil,  a»i  lie  was  s|ieakiiig,  his  eye 

mice  I.  wlih  an  irnslHtilile  attraction,  to  the  slip  ot  paper  which 
lay  iipiiii  the  lloor.  lie  turned  pale,  and  a  shiver  went  thioiigh  Ills 
ttiinie. 

"  Slay,  '  said  tlie  other,  kindly.  "  These  contldenrcs  iiro  giving 
you  pain.  They  open  the  wounds  ntieHli.  It  is  a  terrible  buslncMS, 
and  full  (if  niyslery.  1  am  here  when  you  want  nie— at  any  hour— 
for  niiy  duty.  Don't  hiwitate  to  send  for  me.  Nav,  1  uliiill  eoniu 
here  every  <li'y  to  look  after  you,  nnd  see  that  you  take  cnieof  youi- 
self.  Villi  want  all  your  streiiglli  lor  this  work.  L  must  talk  to  the 
carl,  too.  and  Hi>e  that  he  dru's  not  shirk  any  responsiliility.  liliiuchu 
and  1  will  keep  him  up  lo  the  scratch-  I'll  answer  for  It!*' 

And  with  ihcMo  words,  which  were  like  arrows  in  llaiton's  heart, 
so  unconsirloim  were  they  in  their  Innocent,  ignorant  good- will,  Lord 
Charles  took  his  leave. 

When  the  door  had  shut  behind  his  visitor  George  Barton  tiew  to 
tlie  spot  where  the  pre(!lnus  scrap  of  paper  was  lying,  on  which  Ijudy 
Blan(!he's  |i«neil  had  hastily  traced  her  kindly  IIiich.  Therit  wu«  her 
bold,  strong  hiindvvrlling— there  were  the  words  which  would  for- 
ever rest  engraved  u|)on  his  memory,  lie  pressed  them  to  his  lips, 
and  clasped  them  to  his  heart,  not  with  the  ecstasy  ot  delighted 
love,  but  with  the  terrible  Joy  of  a  mnrtyr  who  presses  tho  cross 
upon  u  bosom  that  lias  been  pierced  by  u  sword. 


George  Bnrton's  reflections,  which  had  grown  lombct  and  more 

Eoigiiant  nttcr  those  few  moments  ot  jiaintul  bliss,  were  disturlied 
y  his  laundress  bringing  him  in  the  mornlne  letters,  forgotten  up 
to  this  moment  In  tho  letier-box.  One  was  a  sorrowful  note  from 
bis  mother,  who  announced  her  intention  of  coming  to  town  by  an 
eaily  morning  train,  whicii  would  ariivo  at  two  o'clock,  and  Itef^ging 
him  to  secure  rooms  tor  her  at  tho  Salisbury  Hotel,  near  tho  Temple. 
The  other  was  n  line  from  Mr.  Soiitog,  recpiesting  him  lo  call  in 
Scotland  Ynrd  before  noon.  Ti.ere  was  little  time  to  spare.  Ho 
dressed  hastily,  and  in  half  nn  hour  entered  tho  private  ofilco  of  the 
chief  of  the  Detective  Department.  There  were  some  evidences  of 
excitement  in  the  room,  and  on  tho  usually  quiet  face  of  the  prin- 
cipal occupant.  A  detective  in  plain  clothes,  a  secretary,  and  an 
ordinary  sergeant  of  the  blue-bottle  species  were  engaged  in  animated 
conversation,  all  standing.  Mr.  Sontag  held  in  his  hand  tho  end  ot 
a  spenking-tubo  which  ho  had  just  taken  from  his  ear. 

"Ah!  Mr.  Barton,"  he  said,  politely.  "Glad  to  see  you,  sir. 
You  have  come  in  just  at  the  right  moment.  Look  here— do  you 
recognize  thid?" 

He  took  up  a  gold  watch  which  was  lying  on  the  table  and  handed 
it  to  the  young  man.  When  the  latter  had  glanced  at  it  he  neatly 
let  il  fall  from  his  hand,  so  extraordinary  was  the  emotion  ot  sur- 
prise which  the  sight  of  it  produced. 


,"'-^>:>i^-.:j.. 


144 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


8, 


"  ■Wliy."  lie  pnsped,  "  this  is  my  {allier's  walch— the  very  one  lie 
took  to  Lunil's  to  be  repaireiU"  .  r>    .1     s  -i,io 

Ilardlv  tnisliug  his  eyes,  he  touched  the  spring.  On  the  ii)«i(le 
of  the  Kokl  hunti'jj,'-case  the  words  "  George  Barton,  fthich  had 
once  been  engraved  there,  were  roughly  eflaccd;  hnl  part  ol  the 
•'  G  "  andthe  latter  halt  of  the  "  n  "  could  he  distinguished.  He 
looked  lit  the  chief  detective  In  amazement.  Were  tliey  oil  wrong 
llienv  Was  it  not  liis  father  alter  all  wli'  lad  perished  in  Hicent 
Circus?  Mr.  Sontng  by  a  sign  dismissed  the  officials  who  were  wilU 
him,  and  when  the  room  was  cleared,  sa'.d, 
"  You  liave  no  iloiibts,  Mr.  Barton?" 

"  None  whatever."  ...,,<,.  ,    i 

"  Remember,  you  had  no  doubt  about  tins  "-Mr.  Honing  pom  ed 

with  His  flngei  to  the  large  l-ollle,  with  the  white  ob.iect  suspended 

in  spirit,  which  stood  upon  a  shelf  along  with  other  interesting 

articles. 

"  This  is  my  father's  watch. 
"  Is  that  your  father's  hand?" 

George  Barton  shuddered,  put  his  own  hand  to  his  heai,  and 
stared  fit  the  inquirer  in  doubt  and  perplexity.  Suddenly  a  light 
flashed  in  his  eyes. 

"  Whsie  was  this  found?    In  Regent  Circus. 
lie  answered  tlie  question  tor  himself,  as  it  the  response  were  a 
matter  of  certainty. 
"No." 

With  the  natural,  or  shall  we  rather  say  the  professional  tendency 
of  a  detective  to  mystitication,  Mr.  Sontag  was  unconscious  of  1  he 
min  that  he  was  intUcting  while  he  postponed  the  solution  of  the 
Bineular  puzzle  he  had  propounded  to  the  young  man.  George 
Barton,  who  was  quick,  suddenly  became  conscious  of  this  as  ho 
looked  at  the  expression,  halt&Tiused,  halt-provoking,  on  the  tuce 
of  the  distinguished  policeman.  .. ,    .  .  ., . 

"Excuse  me,  Mr.  Sontag,"  he  said,  with  dignity.  "  but  to  me  thi» 
is  not  a  subject  of  frivolous  curiosity.    It  concerns  the  fate  of  my 

lather."  ,    ,    .  .       , 

The  detective  took  the  rebuke  m  good  part. 

"  1  hec  your  pardon.  Mr.  Barton,"  he  said.  The. ease  is  8» 
extra-ordinary-that  1  wished  to  see  how  the  matter  wou  d  strike 
you  without  explanation.  This  watch  was  pawned  m  the  Bow 
Road  on  Friday  evening  last." 

"Good  heavens!" 

"  1  sent  again  to  Lund's  this  morning.  They  inspected  this 
watch  There  is  no  doubt  that  they  iianded  it  «c  your  talher, 
wrappea  up  in  a  small  box,  on  Thurf=day  afternoon  at  a  (juarter  past 
tour  How  did  it  get  into  the  East  End  of  London  on  Fiiday  at 
Lalt-paBt  eight  in  the  evening?"  ,  ,     ,  .„ 

George  Barton  shook  his  liead,  his  ideas  were  m  a  thorouch  .state 
ot  confusion.     He  said,  however, 

"  Do  vou  know  who  the  individual  was  that  pawned  It? 

"  We  have  his  description-'  A  respectably -dressed  man-height 
iudged  about  five  feet  six,  blue  eyes,  short,  flatlish  nose  light 
yellow  whiskers,  beard  and  mustache  streaked  with  gray.     W  ore  a 


1— the  very  one  lie 

vg.  On  the  iiwide 
irton,"  ft'l'ich  had 
;  bill  psirt  of  Uie 
listiiiijiiisbed.  He 
re  tliey  oil  wrong, 
lerislied  in  Hicent 
als  who  were  wilb 


Mr.  Sontappoiuled 
3  ob.iect  Huspendeil 
li  ot'ber  interesting 


a  to  bis  beai,  and 
Suddenly  u  light 


lie  response  ^^'tre  a 


ofessionni  tendency 
unconscious  of  ilie 
the  solution  of  the 
(ung  man.  George 
cious  of  this  as  ho 
roking,  on  the  tuce 

ity,  "  but  to  me  thU 
ems  the  fate  ot  my 


"  The. ease  is  8» 
matter  would  strike 
iwned  in  the  Bow 


hey   inspected   this 

it  to  your  tatber, 

oon.atacjuarterpast 

london  on  Fiiday  at 

in  a  thoroucb  state 

pawned  it?" 
Iressea  man— height 
flntiisb  nose,  light 
with  gray.     Wore  a 


A    WKEK    OF    I'ASSroX. 


145 


black,  soil  felt  hat.     C4iive  tlte  name  of  Smith.'  "    Mr.  Sontag  read 
from  a  puper  wliicli  lay  on  his  table. 
"  Clearly  not  my  father." 

"  I  think  so.  Curinusly  enough  the  description,  except  as  to  the 
whisUi-rs,  whicU  ot  course  may  liave  l)een  false,  corresponds  wiili 
thill  of  a  man  we  are  after  with  reference  to  another  crime,  which 
is  almost  as  great  a  my.slery  as  this— the  disappearance  ot  a  wealthy 
Jew,  who  had  on  his  person  at  the  time  a  packet  ot  diamonds;  but 
1  fear  it  is  a  mere  coincidence.  That  man,  no  doubt,  we  eball  have 
in  a  few  days." 

The  reader  knows  how  greatly  Mr.  Sontng's  confidence  was  mis- 
placed. 

Young  Ravton  had  recovered  his  self-po.vsession,  and  his  mind  at 
once  fixed  ilselt  on  the  problem  lo  Oe  solved      He  said: 

"  'I'lie  (itiestion  then  is.  Is  the  pawniuc  ot  this  watch  in  the  East 
End  consistent  wilii  the  theory  that  the  victim  ot  the  catastrophe  ia 
the  Circus  was  my  father?" 
"Exactly." 

"  What  are  the  possible  hypotheses?"  continued  the  young  man. 
"  1st.  My  father  may  have  dropped  the  parcel  before  be  reacliel 
the  Circus.  That  is  hardly  probable.  3J.  Ills  pocket  may  have 
been  picKed  in  going  up  Regent  Htreet.  That  is  not  impossilile, 
though  lie  was  always  on  the  alert  in  going  about  London.  3d. 
This  waicli — like  the  hand— may  liave  survived  the  explosion,  and 
being  packed  in  wool,  may  have  been  thrown  to  a  great  distance, 
picked  up  intact,  and  appropriated.  That  is  just  witliin  tlie  Ijounds 
ot  possibilit}',  when  we  remember  tliat  in  greater  explosions  even 
human  beings  have  been  blown  a  considerablj!  distance  and  yet  have 
fallen  unhurt.  1  see  no  other  alternative,  and  they  are  all  unsatis- 
factory in  the  extreme." 

"  There  is  one  other,  nevcrtlieless,"  said  Mr.  Sontag,  proud  to 
show  his  superior  astuteness.  "  Your  theory  is  that  your  father 
was  the  victim  of  a  conspirac3'.  You  say,  Ihoiigli  j'ou  have  not  yet 
been  good  enough  to  inform  me  of  the  grounds  ot  your  suspicion, 
that  certain  persons  were  interesting  in  putting  him  out  of  the  way. 
Tiiey  must  be  very  rich  persons,  capable  ot  commanding  tlie  as- 
sistance ot  the  ablest  of  those  secret  criminal  organizations  which 
are  always  existing  in  the  great  Continental  cities,  some  of  which 
conceal  vulgar  criirinal  objects  under  the  disguise  of  political  asso- 
ciations, others  of  bogus  international  financial  or  commercial  com- 
panies, wherein  we  sometimes  find  men  of  exceptional  intellect  and 
education  engasicd.  Many  of  these  men  are  really  political  agitators 
as  well.  Th!;y^iave  so  befogged  themselves  with  socialist ical  ideas 
tliat  they  have  actually  succeeded  in  persuading  themselves  there  ia 
no  difference  between  «ic«OT  and  tuutn.  A  man  when  he  is  per- 
suaded of  tliat  is,  so  far  as  all  human  law  is  concerned,  already  a 
criminal  in  principle.  Some  go  no  further;  but  it  is  not  wonderful 
if  many  do  not  stop  there,  but  become  criminals  in  practice.  The 
Irish  agitator,  tor  instance,  in  the  House  of  Commons,  saj'S  that  the 
land  whicli  belongs  to  the  Irish  bmdlords  is  that  ot  the  Irish 
tenants.  The  Irish  agitator  in  Ireland  really  believes  this  doctrine, 
and  falls  back  on  it  lo  justify  shooting  the  landlord.  1  am  not  a 
politician,  but  1  simply  take  note  ot  a  tact  whicli,  as  a  policeman, 


146 


A    AVEEK    OF    PASSION. 


It 


1  am  bound  to  note,  and  which  ia  to  me  an  alamlnR  one,  and  it J^ 
thi"  that  the  socialistic  ideas  now  <.llowcd  to  be  freelv  propagated 
in  all  free  countries,  and  which  are  beinjr  propasated  m  spite  of 
authority  in  others,  are  developing  and  producing  a  large  Tjumber 
o"  criminals,  not  ot  the  ordinary  kind-low,  vulgar,  uneducated 
villains— but  men  of  intelligence  and  resources. 

"  \ou  really  believe  that?"  said  Burton.  „,,..,       ■. 

"  Yts  "  said  Mr.  Sont.ig.     "  Your  disappointed  Socialist  tak^  it 
into  his  Lead  that  he  can't  ailord  to  wait  for  the  millenmuni.     The 
gene    I  distribution  of  property  is  too  far  oft.     lie  juslifles  hiinsel 
on  p   nciples  to  winch  loo  many  respectable  competitors  tor  pohtcal 
poNcr  g  le  a  kind  of  patronage,  in  taking  for  himself  that  which  ^ 
Se^t  to  hand.    This  vLry  German.  Dr.  Schultz  whom  we  are  now 
seeking,  is  a  distinguished  chemist,  a  professed  Anarchist,  who  tried 
trkill  the  Emperor  of  Germany,  and  who  has  slipped  over  .ron 
political  to  private  murders.    lie  is  mixed  up  with  ail  the  gecict 
Lc  eties.  and^.  I  doubt  not,  with  tl.e  most  dangerous  dn  m  of  Lon- 
don  ana  Continental  criminals.     We  have  never  been    ble  to  tlx 
Mm  wUh  a  crime,   though    he  is  suspected  ot   comp  leity  in   a 
least  8  X  murder?,  or  attempts  to  murder.    He  uses    l|<-'«e  secret 
o"  ganiztttions  lor  his  private  purposes.  V7e  have  '>';eu  looking  for  him 
for  six  weeks  in  every  nook  and  corner  ot  Loudon.     We  can  no 
laf  hands  on  him.     Yet  I  do  not  doubt  there  are  scores  ot  men  in 
London  who  know  where  he  is  at  this  moment. 

George  Barton  was  astonished  at  the  intelligence  displayed  by  Mr. 
Sontag,  but  he  wondereil  what  all  this  was  coming  ^o-what  it  had 
to  do  with  tlie  fourth  theory.  Mr.  Sontag  probably  read  a  little  im- 
nntipnce  in  the  young  man's  lace,  tor  he  said, 
^  "  But  i  must  not  take  up  vour  time  with  my  speculations.  You 
TvHl  see  however,  that  tliev  are  not  without  their  bearing  on  what 
?ollowg'  Tow,  if  you  arc  light  in  your  opposition  that  very  ricli 
andTwernil  people  were  iniwested  inputting  your  lather  out  ot 

***?' Sravi^'  interrupted  George  Barton,  who  began  to  be  alainra'  ■ 
the  direction  in  which  Mr.  Sonlag's  insinuations  were  evir^     i 
Bointine.    "  1  don't  think  1  ever  used  the  terms  you  unpute  .j 
1  do  think  that  people  wlio  conliol  larRC  resources  may  hav^  haL_ 
usellie  potential-an  interest  in  silencing  my  fatlier.    1  ceitainly 
dd  notice  the  word  powerful;  with  whatever  ^l^'^^^^^J  yo^J^^Y 
emnlov  it  the  word  and  the  ilea  are  not  mine.    Neitlier,  I  believe, 
have  ttr  led  you  to  imagine  that  1  had  more  than  a  suspicion,  or 
thai  I  had  any  information  which  would  reasonably  justify  it. 

The  unfortunate  young  man  shrunk  from  encouraging  even  a 
aulo  cion  in  the  min^l  ot  this  astute  inquisitor  wl.ich  ^jf  ^  P"\bin3 
on  the  scent  ot  the  perilous  facts  known  to  himselt.  Th«  t"f  ^  "\« 
would  come  when  he  must  speak  the  fatal  words-won  swhch 
would  destroy  liis  liappiness  loiever.  but  he  wanted  to  hold  the 
Tarda  in  his  own  hands  a  little  longer,  to  put  ofl  to  the  last  moment 
the  discbaiee  ot  his  terrible  duty.  »     n„ 

Mr  Sontag.  on  his  part,  felt  a  goo.1  deal  of  disappointment.    He 
bad  spoken  as  he  did  advisedly,  hoping  to  fn^'^P/.^e J«ung  man 
who  he  was  persuaded  knew  more  than  he  had  yet  disclosed,  into  a 
tacit  confirmation  of  his  own  theories. 


"^  ."^'-'>^'::1^'^'.^;  -ri'i- 


miDR  one,  and  it  is 
freely  propagated 
nftiileci  in  spite  of 
ig  a  large  number 
rulgar,  uneducated 


id  Socialist  takes  it 
millennium.  Tlio 
le  justifies  liimselt, 
petitors  tor  political 
uiself  that  which  is 
whom  we  are  now 
anarchist,  who  tried 
slipped  ovei  from 
)  Willi  all  the  secret 
jrous  cliilm  of  Lon- 
er been  able  to  tlx 
>t  complicity  in  at 
15  uses  these  secret 
)ceu  looking  for  him 
idon.  TVe  can  not 
re  scores  ot  men  in 

ft 

ce  displayed  by  Mr. 
ing  to— what  it  had 
ilily  read  a  little  im- 

speculations.  You 
eir  bearing  on  what 
isition  tliai  veiy  rich 
;  your  lather  out  ot 

gan  to  be  alainrW  ■ 
ions  were  evi<^    ■! 
18  you  impute  ij 
368  may  havp  hat 
fattier.    1  ceitainly 
r  meaning  you  may 
Neitlier,  I  believe. 
I  than  a  suspicion,  or 
lably  justify  it." 
encouraging  even  a 
vhich  might  put  him 
Belt.    The  tntal  lime 
words— worils  which 
wanted  to  hold  the 
ft  to  the  last  moment 

disappointment.  He 
rap  the  young  man, 
1  yet  disclosed,  into  a 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


147 


"  Very  well,  sir,"  he  said,  dryly.  "  1  am  content  to  suppose!  lint 
the  principals  in  tlie  iniaginury  plot  are  wealthy  enough  lo  be  al)le 
to  piiy  handsomely  for  the  worn  to  be  done.  Tliese  people,  who- 
ever ihey  are,  would  easily  be  able  to  command  Iheseivices  of  such 
men  and  such  an  organization  as  1  have  sketched  to  yon.  Conse- 
quently, every  movement  of  your  father  would  be  watched.  Tiieie 
may  liavc  been  linlt  a  dozen  accomplices  on  his  track  that  day. 
Our  theory  is  that  they  were  desirous  to  nttacli  to  or  place  upon  liis 
person  a  dangerous  explosive.  They  would  see  him  enter  Ijund's 
shop.  One  of  them  would  follow  him  in.  There  is  a  curious  fact, 
which  1  have  ascer(nine(l  and  hitlierto  concealed  from  you.  A 
man— answering  very  closely  to  the  description  luven  by  the  pawn- 
broker of  the  person  who  pawned  tills  watch— wita  in  the  shop  at 
the  time  wlien  31  f,  Jiarton  loo''^  it  away.  This  person  bought  a  sil- 
ver bracelet,  winch  was  handed  to  him  wrapped  up  in  ii  similar 
parcfcl  lo  the  one  which  was  given  to  your  father.  Suppose  lie  fol- 
lowed your  father,  and  made  some  pretext  for  exchanging  parcels! 
Suppose  that  the  i>arcel  your  father  took  in  exchange  was  an  in- 
ternal machine  wrapped  up  in  the  paper  obtained  from  Lund's! 
Suppose  tliat  he  was  luld  they  had  discovered  at  Lund's  that  the 
wrung  parcel  hud  been  bonded  lo  him,  and  having  no  cause  to  sus- 
pect any  trick,  took  it  and  walked  asvay  with  it  in  his  pocket!  Is 
not  that  also  a  hypothesis  not  absolutisly  beyond  the  limits  of  proba- 
bility, and  accounting  at  once  tor  tuo  accident  to  your  father,  and 
the  existence  of  tiiis  watch  in  .i  sate  and  sound  condition?" 

George  Barton  was  startled  by  llie  ingenuity  of  this  tlieory,  which, 
as  the  reader  already  Knows,  was  a  remarkable  guess  at  the  facts  as 
they  had  occurred;  for  the  lips  wliich  would  liave  confirmed  it 
triumphantly  to  the  philosophic  detective  had  been  forever  silenced, 
and  it  was,  so  far  as  Mr.  Sonlag  was  concerned,  an  instance  of 
purely  constructed  hypothesis.  Yet  it  seemed  incredible,  involving 
as  it  did  so  many  suppositions  that  would  scarcely  bear  the  test  ot 
consideration.     So  much  is  truth  really  stranger  than  fiction, 

"  Now,"  said  Mr.  Sontag,  "  1  tliinlc  you  will  be  disposed  to  ad- 
mit that  my  hypothesis  is  the  only  one  consistent  wltli  the  theory 
that  the  victim  was  your  father- the  only  one  that  will  account 
naturally  for  the  presence  on  the  person  ot  a  man  of  Ids  character 
and  habits  of  a  powerful  explosive— the  only  one  that  explains  the 
finding  of  this  watch  in  the  Bow  Road." 

"  Stay!"  cried  George  Barton,  through  whose  mind  a  sudden  rec- 
olletion  had  flashed;  "  1  am  losing  the  use  of  my  taciilties.  There  is 
now  no  doubt  that  my  father  was  the  victim.  Ilave  you  not  been 
told— lias  the  Larl  of  Selby  not  informed  3'ou — that  young  Lord 
Tilbury  has  recovered  consciousness,  and  states  that  he  saw  my 
father  in  front  of  his  horse  a  moment  before  the  accident?" 
"  No.     How  did  you  learn  this?" 

"  Lord  Selby  told  me  so  himself  late  last  night.  Now  ]  think 
of  it,  he  has  hardly  had  time  to  communicate  it  to  you." 

"  Lord  Selby  told  you  this?  '  said  Mr.  Sontag,  keenly  examining 
the  face  ot  the  young  man,  while  his  own  manifested  a  curious 
mixture  of  astonishment,  cliagrin,  and  suspicion.  "1  understood 
tliat  Lord  Selby  entertained  no  douiit  that  his  agent,  Mr.  Barton, 
bad  disappeared  with  »  large  amount  ot  valuable  property.    It 


-'J 

:i 

'0 


^^ 


3#. 


148 


A    ^VEEK    OF    I'ASSIOX. 


votir  Inthcr's  lilenllly  with  the  victim  of  the  crhne  in  the  Chcus  is 
CvpKbeyona  ilonbt.what  has  become  of  the  papers  U  was 

'^^:^S'£^t£''::^^  .l.e  .lrea.lful  embarrassmen.  into 
wi;  ci  tl  is  Mueslion  threw  him,  for  Mr.  8or,tag  was.  hs  l.ey  -  v  lu 
U,ec  i  rtM.'sgame  of  hi(te-aa.l-soeli.  getting  < laii^erously  ho.  but 
a  tlui  moM.ent'  fortuuiitely  for  the  young  nmn's  candor,  a  card  was 
l.rouL'lii  in  for  Mr.  Soiitag,  who,  ghincing  at  if.  said, 

•'  Wl^y  1  ere  is  the  Earrof  Selby.  rroi.ul.ly  comelp  announce  th  s 
very  tact.'"  (To  llic  attendant.)    "  Asli  the  earl  to  be  ttood  enough 

^° In t  moment  the  peer  entered,  pale  and  n  little  haggard.  Imt  selt- 
poisessed  lie  b..w'ed  to  Mr.  Snntag,  and  gave  George  Barton  a 
i.iiir.1  nrcsmirp  of  the  hand  as  he  saiil, 

"^-l  'see  rarton  yow  are  here  hetore  me.  Mr.  Sontag,  1  earae  to 
civevou  some  very  important  intelligence  which  reached  me  yes- 
fei^av  evening.     I  suppose  my  y<mng  friend  here  has  told  yon. 

Mr^Son"  ghad  glanced  s>.arply  trom  the  ear  to  young  Harton. 
and  f^mhm  again  to  the  earl,  as  they  met.  He  was  p.i/./.led  be- 
vond  measure  at  tl.e  apparent  cordiality  of  the  relations  be  ween 
the  man  who  had  accused  the  missing  steward  oi  a  /;riminal  eva- 
?oa  and  the  son  of  the  person  thus  accused.    He  said,  with  a  cer-   . 

*"'.%T;  lorf  Mr.^utn  has  just  given  me  the  intelligence  which 
of  course  disputes  of  the  charge  your  sol  ic  tors  have  made  here 
against  your  h!te  steward.  and.%y  the  way.  have  also  published  ta 

'^''Trm'lCpy'to  say  it  does."  replied  the  earl,  with  quiet  frank- 
neas  "And  l.at.  Mr.  Sontag.  is  another  object  of  my  coming  here 
Today  1  wish  tha.  charge  to  be  withdrawn  It  was  not  made 
wit  any  strong  conviction  on  my  part,  and  1  have  expressed  my 
deep  sorrow  that  it  ever  should  have  been  made  to  Mr  Barton  .s  son 
who  is  my  g-^ls""-  1'  ^^"8  '^  charge  brought  with  regrettable 
thoughtlessness  and  want  ot  judginent."  ,o«i.,i«„  «f  ihia 

Gcorce  Barton  stood  paralyzed  between  his  apprecia  ion  of  this 
handsome  and  manly  retractation,  and  his  tenor  a  he  perilous 
dfsclMure  which  the  earl  had  made  to  the  astuie  Chief  of  the  De- 
fecUv^  DeSrtment.  It  had  been  arranged  the  night  before  that 
S  were  to  act  in  conceit,  but  the  earl  had  resolved  that  at  any  risk 
lin  wj)uld  discharge  his  conscience  to  this  extent.  .      •,„ 

•WVnd  wha  then."  inquired  Mr.  Sontag..  with  some  vivacity. 
"  is  your  brdsiiip's  theory  of  the  cause  ot  thU  extraordinary-acci- 

**'"ThafaiSn!- "replied  the  earl,  quickly,  "  is  precisely  the  ques^ 
tion  Mr  fig.  which  1  have  come  here  to  ask  your  depa.tment  to 
St  me  to  solve.  1  intended  to  have  seen  the  chief  commissioner 
^  is  Sfsent;  and  1  was  referred  to  you.  1  wish  you  to  ciTer  in  ray 
name  a  rewnrd  ot  £2,000  lor  the  discovery  ot  the  murderers  of 

^  Thf  dSive'-'in-chief  started,  and  screwed  up  his  eves  in  order  to 
get  a  letter  look  at  the  earl.    George  Barton  was  vkibly  uneasy. 

^•i^S^'^d-Lf  rrtu^^faryourlordship.'^  said  Mr.  Son- 


gel 
Tl 


^ZiS^^^ 


me  ill  the  Ciiciw  is 
Ihe  papers  il  was 

embarrftssnieiit  into 
was,  US  they  ^  y  iu 
ini;erously  lio;,  but 

candor,  a  curd  was 

said, 

iiielo  announce  tlii^ 

to  be  tjood  enough 

0  haggard,  but  aelt- 
'e  Genrfje  Barton  a 

p.  Sontag,  1  came  to 
ich  renciu'd  me  yes 
irc  has  told  you." 
rl  to  young  r>:irton, 
He  was  puzzled  l)e- 
(1  relations  between 
oi  a  criminal  eva- 
He  said,  with  a  cer-   ^ 

i  intelligence,  which 
)r8  liav«!  made  here 
[ve  also  published  in 

irl,  with  quiet  frank- 
ct  ot  my  coming  liere 
.  It  was  not  made 
.  have  expressed  my 
f  to  Mr.  Barton's  son, 
jht  with  regrettable 

appreciation  of  this 
irror  at  the  perilous 
me  Chiet  ot  the  De- 
lie  night  before  that 
solved  that  at  any  rislt 
It. 

with  some  vivacitjr, 

1  extraordinary — acci- 

is  precisely  the  ques 
sk  your  department  to 
le  chief  commissioner, 
ish  you  to  oiTer  in  ray 

of  the  murderers  of 

up  his  eyes  in  onler  to 
I  was  visibly  uneasy. 

rdship,"  said  Mr.  Son- 


A    WEKK    OF    PASSION. 


U<i 


tag.  putting  on  an  appearance  ot  delicate  hesitation  which  he  did 
not  feel,  tor  his  question  was  mmnt  to  iro  to  tlie  bottom  ot  things, 
"  wlietlier— you  Imve— a— consulted  your  solicitors  before  you  took 
this  important  step?" 

The  earl  lircw  himself  up. 

"  1  don't  (juiie  see  the  relevancy  of  that  que.stiou  at  the  moment. 
1  have  consulted  my  heart,  iMr.  Soiitag.  Jlr.  Burton,  senior,  was 
my  inliniaie  tricnd  and  counselor  for  twenty-live  years.  1  am  deler- 
niiiied  at  any  cost  to  solve  Ihemysleiyof  his  tale,"  the  more  decided- 
ly that  I  was  a  party  lo  doing  a  temp'o.ary  injustice  to  his  mmory." 
Mr.  Sonliig  bowed. 

"  Ot  course  your  lordship's  wislies  shall  be  carried  out,  but  "  —  he 
glanced  at  Ihe  earl  ami  George  Barton -' we  ou;;lit  to  be  frankly 
informed  of  everything  you,  and  Mr.  Barton's  t-oii,  and  your  solic- 
itors know  which  would  give  a  clew  to  the  persons  who  may  have 
had  a  motive  for  committing  such  a  crime." 

"That  matter,"  replied  the  earl,  "  is  earnestly  engaging  the  at- 
tention of  Mr.  Barton  here  and  myself.  I  admit  it  puzzles  us.  It 
would  be  premature  at  this  moment,  and  even  unjust,  to  say  any 
more." 

Had  the  earl  been  a  common  person.  Mr.  Sontag  would  have  told 
him  here  that,  if  he  consulted  the  Detective  Department  of  the  po- 
lice to  assist  in  imraveling  a  crime,  or  wheliier  lie  consulted  it  or 
not,  if  he  withheld,  even  for  an  hour,  information  which  would  tend 
to  throw  light  upon  the  perpetrators,  he  was  incurring  a  serious  risk; 
tor  the  criminals  iniglit  escape  while  he  was  deciding  whether  his 
suspicions  were  jtistiliable.  But  he  was  a  peer  of  the  realm  and  a 
magistrate,  and  the  chief  ilionght  that  he  had  better  hold  his  tongue. 
The  astute  chief  was  already  beginning  to  get  a  very  ihinjierous 
insight  into  the  state  of  affairs.  Here  was  the  earl  acting  with 
young  Barton.  Was  that  sincere'/  He  was  acting  also,  he  felt  sure, 
tliough  the  earl  had  not  ailmitted  it,  either  without  consulting,  orin 
direct  disagreement  with,  Pollard  &  Pollard.  What  did  that  mean? 
Or  was  that,  too,  a  ruae'r 

There  was  Eomething  more  running  through  the  detective's  mind, 
which  neither  of  his  visitors  was  aware  of.  The  sergeant  who  had 
been  in  the  room  when  young  Barton  entered  was  Sergeant  Gos- 
torth,  of  the  East-end  division,  sent  up  by  the  sub-chief  of  that  dis- 
trict to  make  a  startling  report.  AlcLaren— wnom  Sontag  had  told 
off  to  account  for  Mr.  Charles  Pollard's  movements  on  the  previous 
night  in  substitution  tor  Garbett,  whom  we  have  seen  under  the 
alias  of  Dillon,  had  claimed  the  assistance  of  X  332  the  night  be- 
fore lo  obtain  a  disguise,  with  tlie  intention  of  following  a  supposed 
mariner  down  Dutchman's  Alley  and  into  the  public-house  kno«va 
as  the  Dutch  Lugger.  X  332  havinjr  waited  till  midnigtit,  and  hav- 
ing neither  heard  nor  seen  anything  of  McLaren,  had  concluded  tliat 
the  latter  had  slippetl  off  after  his  man  in  some  other  direction.  Mc- 
Laren had  not  turned  up.  Search  being  ordered,  a  body  of  police 
overhauled  the  Dutch  Lugger  and  neighborhood  without  finding  a 
trace  of  McLaren,  though  the  frowzy  bar-maid  remembered  dis- 
tinctly the  strange  sailor,  answering  to  the  description  given,  who 
was  very  drunk,  and  who  went  away  by  the  private  door  without 
paying  loi  his  drink. 


150 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


ni.1  nnv  other  persons  co  out  with  lilm  or  before  him? 

SI  .Ihfnot  know  She  did  not  know  whelher  nny  other  pei«on8 
,  .  .  ,1  win.  f  r  neir  the  ddcctivc.  She  mindi-tl  her  own  bu'  iness, 
E.i  Th  .c  wa'^'O""^^^^^^^  uttninaMewho  could  desciLelho 
she  mil.     lULii,""  ri,„,i„a   Pnlliird-  for  thiit  H  was  Mr. 

Srl'"p"lant  wh'l  {  ede'^tS"  w'l^s 'followNng  Mr.  Sont.jg  had 
n.^  a  sh.  dow  of  d  ubl-he  knew  his  man-though  tlie  unforlunale 
?d  oNV   w  Ih  the  professioiml  secrecy  of  a  <letcctive,  had  no  d  s- 

e  Sliest:  o:irt;i°:.w''.riS™S\K^^^^ 

n«Hon  euletcd  Mr  Scntag's  room,  and  this  «ras  how  he  bad  done  it. 
"lleranftl^be^^^^  Q"^'^"'^  «•*'«•  "°^  ^'"'^""'^  """"'■ 

^'^.'ubin'^thiVumbrella  belongs  to  a  gentleman  who  got  out  of  a 
hansom  here  last  evening.    1  took  the  hansom  myself  afterward, 

•"Jl  iTLtlook  Uk^  jMTiWardlTi    What  time,  pieaser' 

•  "  liaif  past  e Jl  ."  said  Mr.  Gatbett.  at  a  venture.        It  ^Nas day- 
light    rmpreUy  sure  he  came  in  here.    It  may  be  a  fnend  s  urn- 

^'"  vn'n'ro  mistaken  sir.  No  gentleman  called  here  Inst  night. 
Mrs.  pXrdwLfa^'the  opera,  a^nd  Mr.  Pollard  was  dining  at  his 

•  ''^"^ih  it  may  have  been  later.    He  was  dressed  in  a  black  trock- 

'="?^Wlu;7r"•'TpMed  aIe"BS,''annoyed  by  the  other's  persist- 
pnce  ''Ail   Pollard  didn't  come  in  till  past  twelve  o'clock,  and  he 

^.^Kihed  lii;^"  cU.^  U  w^^^^^^^  known  whether  he  had 

SSieJ^^iclS  «^a;^l.ri^nrriyi  e 
water-side  wnercuitj         j  ,,e  ^jgt  have  done,  since  he 


'->%  jV^ 


•e  him? 

nny  other  peiaons 
1  her  own  bu'  iiiess, 
could  <.le8Ciilif  iho 
■  thiit  H  was  3Ir. 
ig  Mr.  Sonttig  hail 
!;h  llie  unforluimie 
jtivc,  liml  not  liis- 
riUching.  Vot  Mr. 
lardhnilenlerwl  his 
,  and  fresh  us  cvlt, 
liscovered  that  Mr. 
ht  before,  and  how 
ing  his  rtport  when 
low  lie  had  done  it. 
cl  tendered  an  uni- 

in  who  gol  out  of  a 
myself  afterward, 

time,  please?" 
lure,     "Itwasday- 
ly  be  a  friend's  urn- 
led  here  Inst  night, 
d  was  dining  at  his 

led  In  a  black  frock- 

f  the  other's  persist- 
■I'lve  o'clock,  and  he 
:oat  on  his  arm." 
uses,  Mr.  Garhett  re- 
i  of  the  members  ot 
?a8  a  member  of  the 
lown  wliether  he  liad 

lis  fact.  In  the  next 
ic-house  a  small  pool 
i  were  traeed  to  the 
ind  gone  out  by  the 
t  have  done,  since  he 
9  ot  blood,  connected 
most  lively  apprehcn- 
mrk  in  the  river.  A 
ring  the  whole  neigh- 

rles  Pollard  doing  in 
?  and  so  on.  All  this 
was  conversing  with 
1  mystery,  and  horror 
leal  with  would  stand 
ubility  and  resources. 


A    WEEK    OF    I'ASSION. 


101 


ITf  did  not,  however,  give  his  visitors  anv  hint  of  the  new  tragedy 
whicli  had  sent  u  thrill  of  conslerualiou  through  Scotland  Yard,  and 
he  had  directed  that  the  matter  shouhl  be  kept  out  of  tlie  journals. 

The  appearance  of  the  Earl  ot  Selbv  on  the  scene  in  a  new  «hflr- 
acler,  that  of  a  friend  ot  old  Mr.  Uiirlon  actinj;  with  the  son  of  the 
liite  agent,  and  professing  a  lively  nnxitty  to  sift  the  mystery  to  tlie 
bottOMi,  imi)orled  a  tiouhlesome  conlusion  into  3Ir.  8onlag's  theories. 
The  solution  which  he  had  imagined  involved  the  complicity  of  no 
less  a  person  tliun  a  peer  of  the  realm.  Now  tliis  very  peer  was  act- 
ing  like  an  innocent  man,  and  indei)endcutlv  of,  if  not  in  hostility 
to,  his  supposed  accomplices.  The  Chief  of  the  Detective  Depart- 
ment saw  that  he  must  reconstruct  his  liyiwtheses  while  carclully 
keeping  on  his  guard  against  a  collusive  uttempi  to  deceive  him  and 
George  Harton,  wliose  sincerity  was  not  to  lie  questioned.  This  sud- 
den understandinj'  between  the  earl  and  the  young  man  was  in  itself 
verv  suspicious.  It  liad  taken  place,  too,  immediately  after  the  tarl 
had  become  co>;nizant  of  the  fact  that  I^ord  Tilbury  could  verify  the 
identity  of  the  individual  who  perished  in  the  Circus;  and  the  peer 
had  not  communicated  this  fact  directly  to  the  police,  hut  to  Oeorce 
Barton.  .-  i         .  & 

All  tliese  rellections,  however,  Mr.  Sontair  kept  to  himself.  Only, 
as  the  earl  took  leave,  he  said,  in  an  oft-hand  manner, 

"  Your  lordship  will  probably  see  :\Ic8srs,  Pollard  &  Pollard,  and 
Instruct  them  lo  withdraw  the  ailvertisment  with  icijard  to  Mr. 
Uarton?" 

The  peer  was  ju,st  about  to  answer  this  insidious  question,  when 
his  quick  glance  detected  a  certain  cunning  anxiety  in  Mr.  Sontag's 
eye,  which  led  him  to  alter  the  character  of  his  reply. 

"  They  quite  understand  that.  Mr.  »ontag;  good-morning." 

Outside  lliedoor  the  earl  .slipped  his  hand  through  young  ijarton's 
arm  and  led  him  to  his  coupe,  which  was  standing  in  Parliament 
Street. 

"  To  Grosvenor  Place,"  lie  said  to  the  footman. 

When  the  door  was  closed  upon  his  visitors,  Mr.  Sontag,  with  a 
curious  smilt  upon  his  face,  turned  to  his  desk,  and  picking  up  a 
letter  ran  his  eye  over  it.    It  was  in  these  terma' 

"{Confidential.) 

"pollard  &  POLLARD, 

"  155  Lincolii".s  Inn  Fields,  W.  C. 
July  1,  188-. 

"  To  the  Chief  Commimioner  of  Police,  Scotland  Yard,  S.W.: 

"  Sin,— Referring  to  our  communication  to  you  of  yesterday's 
date,  and  lo  our  advertisement  ot  same  date,  concerning'  the  disap- 
TCarance  of  Mr.  Geoige  Barton,  solicitor,  of  Manor  Calham,  Selby, 
Yorks,  we  now  have  the  lionorto  inform  you  that  we  have  only  tliis 
day  discovered  that,  to  our  deep  regret,  a  serious  error  has  been  made 
in  regard  to  the  supposed  loss  of  tlie  deeds  ot  title,  bonds,  etc.. 
stated  in  that  advertisement  to  bo  missing.  Tlirough  an  extraordi- 
nary oversight,  these  papers,  although  forminir  a  )>arcel  ot  consid- 
erable bulk,  had  been  overlooked  uinonst  u  vast  quantity  of  law 
papers  lying  in  the  private  room  ot  our  senior  partner,  and  were 


1-- 


&^ 


Ibi 


A    \vi:i;k    ok    I'ASSIon. 


only  (h'tcrlcd  tills  Mioiiiing,  in  llic  course  of  ii  senich  for  Ihe  ilocu- 
nu'his  in  luiollitT  cusi'. 

"  Tills  ot  course,  disposes  of  the  clitnue  wliicli  wo  Imil,  by  direc- 
tion ot  tlie  Kiirl  of  SoDiy,  liroiijilil  iipiinsl  Mr.  Unrlon,  iiiul  .enders 
it  unnecessary,  so  fur  in  I  lie  enrl  or  we  are  concerned,  to  pursue  nuy 
tiirtlier  iiuiui'ries  iislollie  wlicreiiUouts  of  Mr.  IJiirton,  wlio.  we  lru«l, 
1ms  simply  willidriiwn  liiniself  under  tiie  inliueiicu  ot  toiue  tern- 
poruiy  ulM^rrution  of  intellect. 

"  Wc  liiivu  llie  honor  to  he,  sir,  >ours  faithfully. 

"  POI.I.AUI)   iV    I'UI.l.AI!!)." 

"  Hum!"  said  Mr.  Bonlag,  musint;,  when  he  lind  flni!^hed  tho 
perusHl  of  this  epistle.  '•  Wlml  is  ihe  nieiinini;  of  this?  The  earl 
evidenlly  did  not  know  anvthin;;  iihoul  this  letter,  and  lliey  evidently 
don't  know  what  he  was  doiiiL'  here  just  now.  Tlie  two  parties  uro 
ploying  nl  cross-purposes.  1  bcfjin  to  think  tiie  earl  is  genuine;  it 
80,  Messrs.  Pollard  &  Pollard,  you  arc  the  L'cnlienicn  who  deninnil 
my  parliculiir  attention!  Tliis  is  very  lishy,  to  say  the  least  of  it, 
and  iTicn  of  Imsincss  who  niislsy  Important  documents  and  accuse  a 
brotlier  professional  ot  felony  one  day,  and  find  tho  papers  and 
withdraw  llie  charge  on  the  next,  must  not  be  surprised  if  llie^ 
themselves  become  objects  of  suspicion.  The  secret  ot  Banon  s 
murder  is,  1  susjject,  wrapped  up  in  those  papers,  and  1  am  resolved 
to  know  what  they  are." 

He  touclied  an  dectric  bell,  and  a  sharp,  intelligent-looking  njem- 
ber  cf  the  force  appeared. 
"Send  Mr.  Garliett  here." 

Garl)ett.  aliai*  Dillon,  had  a  totally  different  manner  when  In  the 
presence  ot  his  chief  fiom  tliat  wliich  characterized  Ids  moments  of 
social  expansion.  He  was  stilt,  precise,  brief,  and  business-like. 
He  had  two  exterior  signs  of  the  taculties  which  his  profession  is 
supposed  to  develop  most—the  faculties,  namely,  of  seeing  and 
hearing.  His  eyes  were  large  and  disagreeably  prominent,  his  ears 
•were  simply  phenomenal.  His  jaw— or  rather  muzzle,  for  It  as- 
sumed that  Character— was  exceedingly  protuberant,  and  his  lips 
were  large  and  sensual.  Thev  moved  over  the  Jaw  with  marvelous 
flexibility,  seeming  to  Indicate  a  large  polentlaUty  of  that  sort  ot 
eloquence  which  is  commcm  smong  a  certain  class  of  Uissenting 
preachers  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  where  such  jaws  abound,  and 
where  the  laige  lips  of  so  many  weak  enthusiasts  are  working  to 
prove  that  they  have  been  touched  with  a  Hvecoal  from  oft  Ihe 
altar.  So  little  is  the  fine,  subtle  meaning  of  that  /Ision  of  Isaiah 
understood,  as  Indicating  that  it  Is  only  to  one  or  two  select  spirits 
ot  each  age  that  the  special  Inspiration  of  genius  Is  vouchsafed ;  that 
only  to  one  or  two  in  every  age  Is  given  the  right  or  the  power  to 
prophesy  to  their  fellow-mcii.  Mr.  Garbett,  however,  happily  had 
not  misdirected  his  jaws  to  the  puniose  ot  feeble  and  bigoted  con- 
ceit. He  devoted  them  cbielly  to  a  much  more  practical  purpose, 
namely,  the  trituration  of  asiieenble  comestibles.  Indeed,  he  (juite 
discountenanced  the  principies  of  Lavater,  lor  there  was  not  a  closer 
or  safer  man  in  the  service.  His  face,  like  an  actor's,  was  cleanly 
shaven,  to  facilitate  the  adoption  of  disguises— a  fasblon  which  ex- 
posed a  vast  area  of  blue  black  surface,  deeply  rutted  here  and  there 


senich  for  llic  docu- 

•li  wc  Imil,  by  tlirec- 
Unilon,  iiiul  .eniltTB 
iiiied,  to  pursue  nuy 
irtoii,  wlio.  we  lni«l, 
leucu  ot  tome  tein- 

thfiilly. 

un  iV  l*ui.i,.M!i>.  " 

lie  had  finished  tlio 
i;  of  tliisY  The  earl 
r,  and  Ihcy  evideully 

The  two  parlies  are 
le  earl  is  genuine;  it 
llcnicn  who  deninnil 
o  say  the  least  of  it, 
uinents  and  accuse  a 
llnd  tho  jiapers  and 

lie  surpiiacd  if  they 
e  secret  ot  Bar  ton  s 
rs,  and  1  am  reBolved 

lliuent-looking  mem- 


manner  when  In  the 
rized  hia  moments  of 
f,  and  business-lilce. 
ich  hi?  profession  is 
mely,  of  seeing;  and 
■  prominent,  his  ears 
jr  muzzle,  for  it  ns- 
iberant,  and  his  lips 
Jaw  with  mnrvelouB 
iaUty  of  that  sort  ot 
1  class  of  Dissenting 
:"h  jaws  abound,  and 
siasts  are  working  to 
ivecoal  from  oil  the 
that  vision  ot  Isaiah 
or  two  select  ppirlts 
is  is  vouchsafed ;  thai; 
right  or  the  power  to 
However,  happily  had 
ible  and  bigoted  con- 
ire  practical  purpose, 
es.  Indeed,  he  (juite 
there  was  not  a  closer 
I  actor's,  was  cleanly 
-  a  fashion  which  ex- 
rut  led  here  and  there 


-  * 


A     WICKK     OK     PASSION". 


153 


Willi  expresflivo  valleys  and  riveTine  lines  of  wrinkle,  lie  had  a 
J)  iiiit  of  holding  the  head  in  a  stlfl,  listeiilu!,'  po^illon,  which  seeMicd 
to  indicnlt!  that  he  heard  better  with  the  liglil  ear  tlian  the  left 
iilllioiii;li  in  truth  they  were  l,olh  eipiaily  sh-xrp;  and  it  was  oulv  n 
liiibit  whleh  had  g.-cwn  out  of  exeensive  nelf-conseiousneBs,  liud 
8i'ii-e  of  llie  inipiirlmico  of  Ihe  role  wlileli,  according  to  tho  oa'e- 
clilsni,  Provitlenee  liad  nssigneit  him  in  the  comedy  of  life.  Tliis 
liiihit,  by  liie  way.  lie  shared  in  common  with  many  ill»linj>ulslicd 
mm  ot  leiiera  and  persons  of  "  rultufe."  In  this  position,  with  his 
lifiiKis  crossed  over  the  rim  of  his  hut,  which  he  held  modestly  in 
In  ,1  of  II  promising  i«:iiincli.  he  stood  waiiiiisr  for  liischiet  losponk, 
Giirbiit,"  said  Mr.  Honlag,  "I  am  afniid  :McLuren  has  been 
nipped." 

"  Looks  like  it,  sir," 

Nothing  had  stirred  e.xcept  Mr,  Gaibctl's  lips,  but  that  is  to  say 
about  one  third  of  his  face,  Tliu  large  balls  of  his  prominent  eyes 
remained  immovable,  for,  like  a  fly.  Mr,  (Jarbett  could  see  before 
jiim  or  sideways,  and  almost  all  round  liim  witliout  changing  lUo 
Inclination  of  I  lie  nxiB. 

"  There  could  lie  no  doubt  whatever  that  he  was  on  the  track  ot 
Mr.  Charles  I'oilurd," 
"  Posiiive,  sir," 

"  Wliat  could  Mr,  Pollard  liave  been  doing  in  Wappiug,  and  evi- 
dently in  disguise,  at  tliat  hour  ot  the  night/" 
"  No  good,  sir." 

"And  the  man  who  was  watching  him  is— made  away  with— • 
while  lie  gels  home  safe!  Those  two  gentlemen  must  be  watched 
more  closely  than  ever.     There  is  somtlhiug  l)ehiuil  all  this." 

This  remark,  seeming  to  be  only  the  o\itward  e.xnression  of  some 
Internal  rethclion  of  his  chief's,  the  detective  noteil  in  silence. 

"If.  as  I  now  strongly  suspect,  jMessis,  Pollurd  have  something 
to  do  with  the  murder  ot  Mr,  Barton,  tliey  must  be  in  conimunicu- 
tioa  Willi  some  gang  whicli  has  its  head  (juarters  in  VVapping." 
Mr,  Garbetl's  head  moved  a  little  from  one  side  to  the  otiier. 
"  1  hardly  tnink  so.  sir,"  he  said.  "  It's  more  likely  that  place 
was  cliosen  for  a  rendezvous  because  It  was  furthest  away  from 
their  usual  haunts." 

3Ir.  Sontag  looked  up  quickly. 

"That  is  a  bright  thought,  Garliett,"  he  said,  nodding  his  head 
fipprovingly.  "  You  think,  then,  that  tlie  character  of  tlie  crime 
rather  indicittes  a  superior  West-end  Intelligence— eh?"  He  smiled 
grimly. 

"  Itliink  so,  sir."  .  •       > 

"  Outside  the  Invincibles,  where  is  there  a  man  who  is  capable  of 
conceiving  and  carrying  out  such  a  daring  and  clever  design?" 

Mt.  Garbett  squeezed  his  large  lips  and  lipped  his  heiid  a  little 
more  on  one  side. 

"  There's  Schultz.  sir." 

•'  The  very  man  1  was  thinking  of.  Clever,  iinscrupiiloiis.  a  per- 
fect dare-devl,,  it  all  <iur  reports  of  him  are  correct,  anil  mixed  up 
with  all  these  foreign  Socialists  and  criminals.  IJesides,  I  have  a 
Strong  suspicion  he  is  the  man  who  pa?-ned  the  watch;  but  then, 


164  A    NYKKK     OF    PASSION. 

«nrcl3^  he  Is  too  clever  a  fellow  to  Imvc  rlskea  detection  I.y  .lolng 

''^'Tdon-t  know.  sir.    .Some  oMhe.e  ffUowH  -m  to  act  as  if  the^ 

"''"'wi.y  aUln't  ho  throw  it  into  ll.c  river,  then?" 

Ga.l.e(t  slightly  sl.n.ptul  his  «l.«.'.l.ers  uckct.  he  got 

tliu  West  Of  Soulh-west." 


0  West  oi  Soulh-west."  i 

"  TluTe's  no  »ia;n  whatever  of  8cluilt/.r 

••  Norn"  sir.  since  he  left  his  hcne  in  Fulham." 

::  l'r«r"  \^7S"mee' i'^s^'o" "the  societies  he  use.l  to  attend 

'•^V! Vil^'lS  i:S^  ti:r r;ort  ««.«  U  Ms  a  had  reputation.    I« 
tbere  no  P-.t^-l^^^.Su^StrihnJVs  due  to  its  beins  a  resort 

Jicverventuredown  there  alone;  but  it  .s    o  j  ^Mmt    ^^,^^^^^^  ,,  ^,,^ 
£rn't^rrt'i.S'ue.wS'io?ln'nr«nd  the  pei>.e  he  went  to 

'''••Probably  "  said  Mr.  Sonta«;  "  and  it  is  Impossible  to  suppose 
that  MrPoUard's  business  tl.ere  was  -^^  ->>-;'/««-,,  ^^  Sn^.S 
""^f '^'.n^^o^^t^oTrLd  ct'sX%  bfu"«"ho!u 
rl't"r^Jn."Ce  Suui'ra.;  .he  Vh.rge  .and  the  a.lvert.se.nent 
against  Mr.  Barton.     The  papers  aie  found. 

.'.'  vii'"' Thev  metend  thev  were  mislaid.    I  think  you  said  you 
hadlfeUKnn^eUinS  S  of  a  useful  source  of  informaUon  iu- 

'*'a  Et  "Sy  I'igl't  filled  the  dismal  crystal  of  the  deteelive's  orbs 


letection  by  doing 

Ti  to  act  as  If  tliev 
•ly  he  Ims  iiolted. 
0U8  tiling  to  liavo 


iwn-tic'kot,  he  got 
ciy  likely  ho  got 
It  lie  couldn't  beiir 
;,  1  Huppone.  He- 
rowing  UB  off  the 
a  loolt  for  liim  in 


he  used  to  attend 

ik  of  who  WHS  ever 

My  private  opin- 

ird  co\dd  have  got 
nli?     Wiiere  is  tiio 

ot  any  one.     But  I 
nllenien  wiio  Imve 

bad  reputation.    In 

to  its  being  ft  resoit 
)ut  tliere,  and  some- 
inlta  ihey  supply  a 
ver,  and  the  police 
vhiit  we  should  call 
■  very  reason  it  wns 
B  people  he  went  to 

npossible  to  suppose 
ite  one.  Well,  what 
I  to-dav.  Pollards, 
lout  his  l;nowledge, 
d  the  artverlisement 

I  thin  It  you  said  you 
CO  of  information  iu- 

t  the  detective's  orbs 

of  Grayson." 

low  at  what  hour  Mr. 

osepu  Pollard  is  ac- 


A     WKKK     01'     PA8SI0>f. 


165 


ooiinted  for;  he  went  lioniu  lo  lUgijut'H  Park,  and  slaved  llierc— 
and  whctlier  ('iiurlcM  Pollard  was  at  liin  i  ub,  aN  Hialoil  l)y  liis  serv- 
nnl?  Jl(!  could  not  have  bucn  tlieie  long,  as  we  are  ceitaiii  lie  niiiBl 
have  biun  In  Wapping.  Have  you  fo'ind  out  what  elul>  he  be- 
longed to'.'" 

"  'llie  Tlialched  riouse,  sir."  ' 

"  \'ery  well.  We  mu.st  ascerlain  when  and  how  long  he  Was 
there,  and  in  what  company.  The  porters  ot  lliise  club.s  are  very 
close;  tlKv  keep  tin  scrcls  ot  their  members  well.  You  will  liuvo 
lo  e.\ercisi-  a  little  ingenuity." 

"  Hasilv  done,  sir." 

"  lll)W?" 

Mr.  Soniag  was  tond  of  testing  the  inlelllgence  of  his  agents. 

•'  Tlie  lioy  who  takes  ilic  Ulter.s  to  the  post.  You  can  see  tliem 
nil  soutllini;  down  Pall  >liill  loi-  Cliarin!.'  Cross  (!very  evening  at 
about  (|uarler  to  six,  lie  ciui  nhvays  .see  the  iioiter's  renisier  wiiii 
the  name  and  hours  ot  entry  and  dqiarture,  and  he's  tlie  only  serv- 
ant besides  th(!  ci'iiniiixxidiiiirtiiv  who  gels  out.  A  soveieign  will  go 
a  lonsr  way  with  him." 

"  Well,  thai  is  yoni  alTair.  No  one  knows  belter  than  you,  Gur- 
bett,  how  lo  maniige  these  things." 

A  very;  slight  thrill  of  Batislk-d  pride  shook  Iho  frame  of  Mr.  Oar- 
belt,  wliicli,  like  many  ot  the  earth  shocks  now  go  frefjuently  re- 
ported in  tlie  newspapers,  "  ivas  not  attended  by  any  disastrous 
conse(iuenee8  "  to  his  stiUues(iue  ligidity. 

"  Then,  Garbett.  there  is  another  mailer  1  sliotild  mention.  The 
Karl  of  Selliy  has  just  bwu  here  with  young  Barton.  lie  has 
nuihonzed  me  to  ofler  a  reward  of  tl'JOOO  "— a  second  s)lj;ht  con- 
vulsion in  ^Mr.  Garbett's  frame,  and  a  glimmer  in  the  liuge  eyeballs 
— "  for  the  discovery  ot  llie  murderers  ot  Mr.  l{art<m  in  RegenI  Cir- 
cus. ^  There  is  no  longer  room  for  doubt  Iliat  he  was  the  victim,  for 
the  Earl  of  Tilbury  has  recovered  consciousness,  and  stated  that  he 
recognized  him  at  tlio  moment  of  the  acciilent.  I  believe  tlie  Earl 
of  8elby  to  be  sincere,  and  be  is  acting  in  disagreetufut  with  his 
solicitors.  The  key  to  ilm  mystery  of  3Ir.  Barton's  fate  lies  some- 
where in  tho.su  papers.  Tliey  liave  been  found,  but  at  any  cost  1 
must  know  what  they  are." 

Mr.  Soniag  took  up  the  memorandum-lmok  marked  "  G.  B.," 
and  referred  lo  tlic  advertisement,  which  he  had  gummed  upon  one 
ot  the  leaves. 

"  In  this  advertisement  Pollard  &  Tollard  agreed  to  supply  a  list 
ot  those  papers  to  whom  it  might  concern.  It  concerns  us  tlie  de- 
tective police.  "We  ought  to  have  asked  tor  that  list  immcdialely; 
we  will  ask  for  it  now,  and  1  will  liave  it,  or  know  tliu  reason  why." 
lie  touched  an  electric  bell.  His  clerk,  a  short-hand  writer,  ap- 
peared,  with  a  pen  behind  his  ear,  a  vial  of  ink  suspended  at  his 
button-hole,  and  a  reporter's  notebook  In  his  hand. 

"  Messrs.  Pollard  &  Pollard,  Solicitors,  155  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields. 
Gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Sontag,  and  Ihe  clerk's  hand  th-w  over  the 
paper,  "1  am  directed  by  the  Chief  Cominis«!oner  of  Police  to 
acknowledge  receii)t  of  your  letter  ot  this  dale,  lelaliui;  to  the  dis- 
appeaiunce  of-Mr.  George  Barton,  solicitor,  ot  Manor  Calliam,  Sel- 


ise 


A     WEKK     OF     I'ASfllOK. 


I 


11 


"''■ 'r:!;;^' inHMu.'l.'ii  l.vr;:l.i.t  <...„,n.UHioner  to  H,,v  Una  U.Ih  u  .o 

lions  with  »omc  prrson  or  juts  ...s  ^     .      ;>    '^  J,^  '  "  '  ,   ,  ,i.„i  j.„,i 

,vill,  in  fu.thcnuu'e  of  |us Uc.  '  "'^  ''\,  ."^  t'  ^^h^  „  list  unU  lie- 
boHrcr.  Ml.  Ocor^-c  (  nibctl.  ot  '  f ''  '  j^.^'X,  l;ii  .lly  inform  him 
Bcripllon    of    those  ^•'':"'";"'  ''!„,;  ^i^sS^     he  innpected 

s:t'S.iirh;^u:^tas::i^:; -'"j-t  of  this  aepart.neut- 

etc  ,  etc." 

this  moment.  Gflrbiti,  "'"*^  '"     ;^      ,.  ,,     .    „.  „ot  very  mre  of 
closelv  wrttched.     Put  four  men  ou  the  dutj . 

headed.     ^^^''-^'^^'^-Jro  V  msm mUe  iu  R  Circus,  and  alllrm- 


Illlo.  clc'  nUe>?e(l 
1(1  wlildi  you  iui)- 
vc  lii'cn  foiiiid.  iiml 
KnrI  (of  rtelby)  iiml 
•  Jmiuirieit  iw  lo  ll»e 

O  HIIV  tlmt  IlllH  U  KO 
10  ilK!  Hiliult!  l>»ll>t 

llmlKi'""''"""''  '•"' 
iiiHinitii'il  lis  t(i  llio 
•giiril  to  till!  liiiilii^r 

illlH  llixilppi'liniMfl', 
lIliH    IllUcf  lo  oir.T  11 

TV  of  ll'«  I'l'i'^oii  or 
liiH  (k'lilli,  liy  ilyiia- 
It  i;ircun,  oil  Tliui-9- 
on  lo  you  ol  \M  111' 
(.(I  in  liunsniiHHion. 
nw  in  llic  possi'i'sioq 
idciiiiiy  ol  Mr.  Hur- 
ropliu. 

oner  (Iccma  11  mces- 
ly  iiiloniiuil  ol  wlmt 
s  it'fcrri'd  lo  in  your 
(■(I  wiih  lUr.  Ilurlon, 
iL-  n;iliir(!  ol  hlH  relii- 
vc  liwn  inlcri'sletl  lu 
led  lo  hi-%  thai  yott 
I't  conimisMoner,  per 
It,  wHli  u  lisl  anil  de- 
)  Idndly  inform  liim 
isunx'  lo  lie  iiispecled 
ot  lliis  duparUnent— 


leaflt  throw  Bomte  per- 
il innooeul.  It  ralhcr 
id  11  K'ves  llivni  some 
•prise  lliem;  but  trom 
mist  be  i)liiced  under 

Hie  not  very  sure  of 
lo  escape,  and  it  tliey 
)on'l  >  '»nie  biu'.l,.  wiili- 

trom  uicir  ulHces  aio 


d  into  action  by  some 
nocli,  and  with  a  slift 

aled  an  adverlisenient,^ 
Jcwardl"  selling  forth 
•nt  Circus,  and  alllrm- 
,  of  the  Earl  ot  Selby, 


A    \vi;i:k   ov  parriov. 


isr 


and  ofTiriiiK  U\  tlic  ciirl'it  name  llie  idiovo  reward,  rfc.  Tliiswiis 
wrillcii  out  lo  lie  Hiiliniilted  to  ilie  cidcf  coinniliHloiicr,  and  tlie  cliiff 
of  III!'  l)ilM:iivc  Kcpiiiinicni  liirndl  lo  olIuT  niNsiciJiM  Willi  uliicji 
lux  dec!;  iiinl  liriilfi-  were  (iiiwdod.  No  nilni-iir  (d  Htatc,  wiili  IiIh 
r.'iir  or  live  ilinui'tind  /«/•  tnunnu,  no  juil>;c  upon  ihi-  licnrli  wllli  an 
iMUiil  fuliiiy,  w.is  rvrr  ('iilldl  upon  to  cxcil  miii  li  (niccM  ol  inli'lk'Ct, 
Midi  riciiriics!*  ol  jicml,  siicli  anxious  mid  inccMsinl  dill^'i  iici-,  sucli 
I'liyKicid  (iipiiciiy  lor  work,  us  iliis  admluislnuivu  ollluei  iiitiiilica 
for  u  lew  liiindredg  11  your. 


CIIAPIKR  XIV. 

I.OUIIS     (III     (OM.MONM? 

TirF  dlcep  ot  Lady  Illnnclie  I.ayton  after  lier  remarkable  vliril  liarl 
been  licalilic  but  hlioil.  We  juivc  seen  lliiil,  at  a  loleniblv  curly 
lioiir,  HJic  lifid  indited  a  note,  ciirelesHv  wiiilcii,  liiit  wliieli  now  oc- 
fiipird  a  posiijon  in  the  Hide  pock,.}  ,,f  Mr.  Ocort'c  Iliirloirs  comI 
opi>osiie  lli;it  eniipleni  of  iIkmiIi  imssioii  wliicli  iintiire  liiis  iilanled 
in  every  liuniiin  breii'-l.  The  wciikncus  ol  ihc  hironir(.«i  mrn  is  really 
deplorable.  She  had  alno  received  and  read  a  delicate  lilllc  ptneilecl 
note  trom  llie  CounkKs  of  Tilbury.     It  was  tlius  conceived. 

^  ••  Moii.lay  NiKlit. 

DrcAHKsr  ni,.\N(  in:,— He  lias  asked  lor  you.  We  liave  t,o  nincii 
Jioiie  since  we  lirid  thai  the  brain  is  so  clear  and  the  ii.eiiu.rv  so  per- 
lect.  Ilm  BlreiiKtli.  too,  is  increasinu:.  He  saiil  this  i'vcnlnir 
•  Uoiihln'l  it  be  nice  if  lllaiiclie  were  my  wili;,  and  were  liure  \o 
lielp  you?'  1  let  liiiii  talk  a  liith;.  Ah,  wimi  a  fjoose  I  was  to-dny 
mil  lo  take  you  at  ynur  word!  However,  my  dear,  1  n)U8t  see  you 
t  onie  over  as  soon  us  you  can  iu  (he  niorninjr. 

"  Your  lovhig 

"  AlNT.'' 

The  ellect  of  (his  missive  njion  Lady  Blanche,  who  was  1h».i!* 
p(rusinn  lier  correspondence  in  lied,  was  somen  hat  phenomenal 
A  tier  a  llrsl  rapid  dance  over  llie  note,  siie  jumped  out  ol  lad  wilh 
nil  II  :•  encrjry  and  iiiKovviancc  of  a  school-pirl,  srallerinn  er(?sle(l 
notes  iind  cards  and  envelopes  all  over  the  carpet.  Then,  (inile  un- 
iiiindiul  ol  iwo  Utile  (cet  wliicli  reiuaiiied  iineov(.Ted  in  tlie'inimedi- 
alt'  iipiudiborliood  ot  a  pair  of  criir.son  satin  slippers,  enibroidcied  in 
f;old,  she  loaned  against  liie  side  cf  litr  lied  and  read  over  llie  letter 
word  by  wiud,  while  an  odd  mixture  ol  mischief  i.ml  seiionsiiess 
lilayeil  III  her  violet  eyes. 

It  slunild  lie  remembered  llial  ihc  last  thoni,'hl  she  had  had  hetore 
she  went  lo  sleep  had  been  (Jeorge  Barton,  and  die  ilrsi  HiiiiL' lo 
which  she  liad  awakened  in  llie  moniinj;  was  Oeorpe  Ihirton-  and 
this  I'lirly  thoujiht  was  kinilly  and  expansive.  J  can  not  say  that  she 
lim  done  much  more  than  liasiilv  lliliik  and  write  that  filtlenole 
whi  'h  ilien  no  iroid  could  have  repurchased  ;  hut  that  slb-^hl  ebulli- 
tion of  senlimeni  and  sympathy  Had  leli  behind  it  a  beneficent  feel- 
Ing  of  satislacton,  the  cause  or  ihe  extent  ol"  which  Lady  Blanche 


158 


WEVM    OF    PASSION. 


x\-ilh  which  slic  had  iml  the  ""•;  °7';r'"igiy,ic  ;„  those  beautiful 

at  her  word,     the  s"'*;"^\°,  ""^^    ,.  ,„^e  ,i,e  nmn  to  whom  she  gives 
live  which  stood  l'<^[""  ,;.  ''^.if;'^', "f"sl  of  the  hidy  of  tlie  caslle, 

her  thoudits,  she  had,  "\''^"*'°";"';  "  .nr>is  than  she  had  ever  done 

.  simply  mean  the  mtru^tmg  "f  /^'^'^j^  BhindJa  case  it  .vas  put 
imbecile  n    suardumslnps!    B^^^^ 

°  r  "tLt '\;'^.af  a£  ami  willing,  ,o"assume  the  responsibility, 

l\Ta?^l^e  ^^Jtc^oVul"to^         '«he  must  fight  tor  her  own 
'''U  was  later  than  she  expected  when  the  landau,  tor  the  earl  had 


mins,  nor  had  the 
,  and  her  report  of 
hml  sifiiialized  the 
mliiist  the  teclings 
ted  the  other.  In- 
■  in  those  beautiful 
.1  her  look  fixed  on 

hat  on  earth  am  1 

lundly  serious  than 
Lse  words— the  first 
acciipitd  her  heart, 
turned  to  her  now 
ul  not  hfin  "taken 
iirl  Ihiit  slie  did  not 
I  to  whom  she  gives 
ler's  safxe  and  nol)le 
oeihw  in  this.  No 
ken  up  any  strong 
mils  were  sighing  to 
1(1  a  melancholy  fig- 
iiininions,  uttructing 

liidy  of  tlie  castle, 
leie  in  this  note  was 
f  cousin  was  not  out 

his  heart.  The  ap- 
Udin.  lie  did  love 
led  to  avoid  the  least 
1  the  lines  with  the 
ch  she  was  too  true, 
L'ar  terms. 

one,  that  ot  Lady 
Plie  seemed  to  Itel  at 
1  not,  or  at  least  slie 
absolutely  tree.  But 
r  this  to  take  torni  in 
other's  words,  begun 
n  she  had  ever  done 

that  saying,  "  Your 
!  riftht  to  dispose  of." 
Ihat  npothegm  would 
he  weakest  and  most 
ache's  case  it  was  put 
fiections  had  revealed 
ine  the  responsibility, 
10  it. 

;  for  this  little  note  ot 
ions  to  the  lists:  and 
er  heart  almost  stand 
ust  fight  toi  her  own 

ndau,  tor  the  earl  had 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


159 


borrowed  her  coupe  tlat  morning,  drove  up  to  the  Tilbury  mansion; 
in  fact  it  was  just  aoout  luncli  time.  A  carriage  turned  out  to 
make  way  tor  hers,  and  she  recognized  her  own  horses  and  the 
family  livery, 

"  Why,  papa  must  be  lunching  here,  too,"  she  said;  and  for  some 
Inexplicable  reason  lier  heart  began  to  beat  quickly  with  a  pre- 
monition of  some  surprise. 
"  Is  tlie  carl  here,  Simpson?" 

"  lie  is,  Lady  nianche,  and  young  Air.  Barton.  Lunch  is  just 
going  to  be  served  in  tlie  dining-room.  The  countess  is  down  for 
thn  first  time." 

Accordingly,  in  the  morning-room.  Lady  Blanche  found  her  aunt 
and  the  two  gentlemen.  The  (iiiiet  little  emplnisis  of  her  ladyship's 
embrace  did  not  pass  unnoticed  by  the  quick  j'oung  lady,  whose 
susceptibilities,  moreover,  were  in  a  somewhat  morbid  .state  ot  in- 
tensity, and  she  remarked,  with  grief  and  regret,  that  this  cmpresse- 
ment  suddenly  aroused  within  herself  some  grotesque  monkey  of 
anger  or  revulsion,  not  airainst  her  aunt,  but  against  the  idea  she 
seemed  to  personify.  This  sent  an  almost  imperceptible  chill 
through  the  effusiveness  of  her  reception  and  return  of  the  count- 
ess's embrace,  a  slight  languor  of  cordiality,  which  the  fine  sense  of 
the  elder  woman  perceived,  but  attributed  to  a  wrong  cause. 

"  You  seem  a  little  pale  and  weary,  my  dear,  1  fear  you  do  not 
get  enough  sleep." 

"  It  is  rather  hard  work  to  be  a  fashionable  lady,"  replied  Lady 
Blanche,  with  a  slight  tone  oi  bitterness,  which  she  endeavored  to 
neutralize  bv  a  little  laugh,  "  and,  uuhappily,  tlie  labor  is  so  use- 
■  less." 

The  earl  laughed. 

"  Aly  dear  Blanche,  '  he  said,  "  even  butterflies  Jiave  their  place 
in  the  economy  of  nature." 

"  And  Ueas— and  gnats,"  she  replied,  quickly,  with  a  saucy  glance 
at  Iier  father.   "  How  are  you,  Air.  Barttou?  " 

The  transfiguration  of  Barton's  somber  face,  when  at  length  the 
young  lady  turned  to  him  and  familiarly  held  out  her  hand,  could 
not  escape  the  keen  eyes  of  the  countes's,  though  the  earl  did  not 
see  it.  An  arrow  went  through  Lady  Tilbury's  heart,  and  she  said 
to  herself,  "  AVhat  dots  lliis  mean?"  A  man  in  Barton's  position 
needs  to  practice  all  the  subtlety  and  feint  which  Alachiavelti  revin- 
dicates for  government  and  diplomacy,  if  he  would  not  prematurely 
betiay  liimseU  to  tHe  intuitive  perspicacity  of  feminine  spectators. 

Blanche  was  conscious  of  the  mistake  he  w,i".  making  in  allowing  ~ 
his  cheek  to  flush  and  his  eye  to  brigliten  and  rest  upon  her  lnce° 
with  just  a  little  too  much  emphasis  of  adoration,  and  she  was  angry 
at  it.  She  withdrew  her  hand  quickly,  and  turning  to  her  an'Mt,  ' 
plunged  rapidly  info  a  series  of  animated  questions  about  her 
cousin's  condition.  The  doctors  now  pronounced  him  in  a  fair  way 
of  recovery,  unless  some  sudden  excitement  should  occasion  a  re- 
lapse. 

Barton,  in  the  presence  of  the  Sun,  was  standing  in  the  shadows. 
Lady  Blanche  took  care  not  to  give  him  either  tlie  occasion  cr  the 
encouragement  to  look  at  her  again  as  he  had  done.  1  think  she 
■was  a  little  annoyed  to  be  thus  obliged  to  stand  upon  her  guard,  and 


.*...' 


160 


A    AVEEK    Of     PASSIOK. 


t,at  possimy  son.  such  "-.M -^  tiruleni^^^'^'^it!!- '^ 
that  in  matters  ot  'ove  men  art  I  c  wt  ^^j,_^^  ^^^,,  ,„g„p. 

actors.  AltogelUer  Rl.mc  .e  /^^  \,f^r»;\,rohension  of  wlmt  was  to 
pointed  wlt\i  l»"8 '"°^'';:,^';?io,r  vlmtevJ^^  Itom  n..iloi:'s  presence 
Lmeafterit   an(  uosa  8la(^^i^^^^^^^^  tor  the  fu.lhtu 

She  knew  what  hail  l«'^«^",P  '  j- ,",\,i  i,e,-  cvervlhin!;- except,  of 

Lot.l  Charles  l^'"^^*^^™!,'^  v  So  '  ''»«  "»''^'  ^^''"^^  ^'^  TZ 
course,  that  one  bii  ot  '" "'V  V  r.m.1  not  reter  to  that  interview  m 
Si  i.ave  «»«F«'«'''«";  Jir'i^"  '  rea  V  been  established,  there- 
Ze'T^n  oTrSanlauSmiuy  au.fcon.nu.nicat.on  between 
these  two  young  people.  rj.,,^  count- 

Altogether,  this  lunch  ,79""t  a  gay  or  haPPj^  ^^^^^  hnpplnessto 
«9S  was  too  unMous  about  her  «o^  f  l^*-;^  'Vu,.  subjects  which  the 
be  expansive;  the  earl  ,^»«^„^;,'^'  and  Barton  alter  the  slight 
presence  of  "'»'^"  ^9^'  j  y\  "  ,he  a  r  huly.  relapsed  into  mono- 
?epul.e  a«»'"'"'«'^'f.,  "J  '';h*^.\e  It  the  ne.dot  saying  somethmg  to 
SjtrSHn  .SS~;  laltd  on  incessantly  to  a  ve.y  un- 
apptecialive  audience  ^         ^  „{  n.e  lunch,  "  you 

*^J^  Blanche."  said    he  ^   •  «lyly;„«;^;'^„\,  ^ay  so  much  in  the  same 

fly.  ^  might  spin  a  cocoon-  couldn't  resist  the  rc- 

"^'  Ami  become  a  grui).  ,,s  id  Jt  ea  •  "  ,.  ^^^^  ^^  „^.^  ,1,  ,  ,er 
loit  "  My  ilear  Blanche.  ''V»  r^mi  to  know  the  worries  of  hte. 
londly,  "there  is  Jime  eno^.gh  to  yo  U,  km>^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^,  ,^,^, 
Tiwre  is  vour  aunt  there,  ^^  no  "'"  '^'^"  •',, 

Juch  wee^ds  grow  in  the  fair,    garde^.  ,.  ^,„„^,.,, 

"  1  am  not  talking  of  weeds,  my  dear  ta    er  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^_ 

SSL:^i  S -^^  -  --rre.ay  tigured  by  a  mar 
*"'^''"c"bbage8l"  cried  the  earl.    "Onions,  carrots,  aspuragus,  Brus- 

^'llit'tle  hand  was  put  over  his  mouth 

r:  ,  ,a,  sha'n-t  nvake  tun  »t  me  my  >-d^.^,^_«^;X°  at'me  like  a 


*'>E,r" 


iitilalea  in  the  la- 
el' •  Ami  it  is  I  rue 
most  iimitislic  of 
•oriJed  nml  ilisnp- 
ion  of  wliHl  wi.s  to 
n.iiloii's  presence. 
.  tor  the  fuilhtii'. 
ihiii!;  — ex"'l"'  "^ 
Le,  which  he  uever 

0  thtit  interview  lu 
esttiblisheil.  tUere- 

nuniciitioubetweeu 

y  one.  Tiie  count- 
tiit\ire  hnppinesa  to 
subiecls  which  the 
•ton,  atter  the  slight 
•elapsed  into  mono- 
saving  something  to 
anily  to  a  vciy  un- 

01  the  lunch,  "  you 
90  much  in  tlie  same 
,Ve  owe  you  an  apol- 
B  we  aid  all  heavily 

iS  with  a  melancholy 

lich,  like  so  many  ot 

deeply,  and  n-pliwl, 

stant  at  Barton,  who 

think  1  have  enough 
_it  is  because  you  do 
1  you  1  should  like 
iiore  than  the  butter- 

couldn't  resist  the  rc- 
»  arm  on  her  shoulder 
,w  the  worries  of  lite. 
3W  soon  and  how  fast 

r  "siiidLadvBlanclie, 
iiiu;  more  of  the  com- 
ectly  tigured  by  a  mar 

rrots,  aspuragus,  Brus- 


You  know  you  don  t 
ou— you  treat  me  like  a 
131anohe,  ou  whose  fau'. 


-^■'^;': 


A    WEKK    OF    PASSION*. 


1 


161 


blooming  cheek  two  little  crystal  signs  of  vexation  suddenly  sprurg 
to  the  liglit.  Slie  bit  her  lip,  and  turned  away  rapidly  to  hide  them. 
"  Go(i  forbid,  my  dear  cinldl"  caiil  the  eail.  taking  botli  her 
lianils  in  his  and  pressing  them  iiftectionately.  "  No  one  knows  bet- 
ter than  1  do  that  there  is  a  serious  and  clever  brain  incloaetl  in  tliat 
charming  l)onnet.  Your  useful  time  is  coming.  1  would  only  save 
you  as  long  as  1  can  from  the  vulgar  troubles  and  trials  of  life." 

'llie  countess,  who  wished  that  this  little  scene  had  had  no 
fourth  spectator,  brusquely  pui  hpr  arm  througn  that  of  her  niece 
and  drew  lier  toward  the  dior. 

'■  Your  cabbage-garden  \>'ll  be  ready  tor  your  little  spade  soon 
enough,  my  dear,"  she  said.  "  Uood  morning,  Mr.  Barton.  God 
help  you  in  your  troubles!  1  should  like  to  see  youi  mother  as  soon 
as  1  can  get  out  and  she  feels  able  to  receive  me." 

"  And  please,  Mr.  Barton,  give  her  my  best  love  and  sympathy," 
added  Lady  Blanche,  "  and  say  1  will  try  to  find  that  place  in  the 
City— the  Salisbury — 1  shall  remember  the  name  ot  the  Omaerva- 
tive  leader— and  take  her  home  with  mo  for  u  tew  hours.  She  must 
be  hear! -broken." 

The  contrast  belweeu  the  patronizing  manner  ot  the  countess  and 
the  frank,  equal  cordiality  ot  Lady  Blanche's  words  struck  Barton 
keenly. 

The  ladies  bowed  as  he  opened  the  door  for  their  exit,  and  the 
earl,  excusing  himself  for  a  moment,  followed  them.  The  young 
man  sighed,  strolled  to  the  window  and  looked  gloomily  out. 
Never  had  his  love  been  more  frantically  intense,  or  looked  moie 
intensely  hopeless.  With  the  delicate  supersensitivencss  of  the 
lover  who  is  not  sure  of  his  ground,  he  divined  that  the  countess 
had  guessed  his  secret,  and  was  annoyed.  !Never  before  had  her  tone 
and  manner  to  him  been  more  accentuated  with  hauteur. 

"  Is  it  a  plenary  amnesty?"  said  the  peer,  when  they  were  in  the 
hall,  putting  on  an  air  of  half-comic,  iialf-earnest  anxiety,  in  this 
period  of  critical  trouble  his  heart  turned  with  an  oactr  longing 
toward  the  affection  ot  this  daughter,  the  living  image  and  reflec- 
tion of  his  dead  wife.  His  feelings  had  been  touched  by  those  two 
little  tell-tales  on  her  cheeks,  and  lie  could  not  bear  to  carry  away, 
among  his  other  anxieties,  the  thought  that  he  had  left,  however 
minute,  a  thorn  in  her  young  heart. 

"  Nonsense,  my  dear  earl,"  said  the  countess,  whom  this  inci- 
dent, for  some  subtle  reason,  had  violently  displeased.  "  1  thought 
Blanche  had  ceased  to  be  a  child,  and  that  you  had  long  since  at- 
tained to  years  of  discretion.  One  can  see  that  you  are  beginning  to 
pass  beyond  them.  Sucii  a  little  scene  before  that  boy  George  Bar- 
ton, was  quite  out  of  place,  and  ridiculous!  Come  away,  Blanche," 
she  added,  trying,  with  ill-success,  to  alter  her  tone  into  one  of 
good-humored  banter:  "  1  am  going  to  be  very  angry  with  you,  and 
give  you  a  bfowingiip." 

"  Poor  Blanche!"  said  the  earl;  "  I  am  afraid  you  are  going  to 
be  committed  tor  trial;  but,  perhaps  this  time  the  '  beak  '  will  let 
you  oil  with  a  caution." 

The  countess  was  quite  out  in  her  tactics — an  error  which  must 
be  attributed  to  eagerness  and  anxiety  on  behalt  ot  the  patient  up- 
stairs.  Her  niece  had  views  ot  her  own  as  to  what  was  discreet  and 

6 


;'^i 


109 


WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


nsbuuifil  (.t  having  •-'''I'l'^  «'^ 'V'^7the  couut;^^  rfferenco  to  huu 
foie  Geor«e  1  .ir  on,  '""'^.XTunoVtKl  he?  WhvV  Well,  gentle  or 
,is  •'  that  boy  l»'^^\<=""°"''!,'l"'7,^hiks  nnvthiul-  is  never  au  ei.sy 
,ru«eulle.  rentier   ^vby  a  won  «^^^^^^^  ,ue  .no.t  ere- 

(luestion  to  iinisvver;  but  '\^!"i  "o''  iMimdie  btid  lu  a  sense 

I'es.  lounger  over  tUcse  pH^'os    hat  J  "-^  ^">  '  „„,,  i,„a   vouchsafed 
„Ken  youn-  Harton   umier  '"-''   \^VV'^"-^^\'^,.a9rtero-atory  to  the 
him  her  royal  «yn'r'^^''y  ";"\;^";'\  ,  '1  "ct.  or  h.  subject,  ot  those 
dignity  ot  lier  8^i"^''"«"'^^<^  'iL  .\e„i^    S  us  "  tliat  boy.  • 
reoal  senlinieDts  contemplu""8ly  •l';'^'""^";    1  of  the  w^rlclwouW 

M  any  other  time  tl>e  acute,  sen.    evo,^^         U-^^  ^^  ^^ 
probably  have  ^^collectea  I  .     sxorn  i  .^    ^^^^^     ^^^ 

Ivpvinst  the  object  "f/^/Xn  as  >  tils  case,  that  object  is  on« 
jreuerous.  an.l  «8I?'<=  '^'^L.T'  fi\'  'uy  For  no  one  Icnew  Letter,  or 
tgainst  whom  il  is  ^P^'fl,  "J"r„^"e„v.ntess,  tl>e  sterling,  maulv 
more  hiRi'ly.  '*PP'^'-'"'*'::i^  J  ""  Sfe  h  per.  litteil  heiselt  to  speak 
riuahtiesot  ^^'^V^^°'\''^^,}^°Z^mxmt  Blanche,  surpriscU  at  tl.is 
iU  lone  of  I'^lt-*'"'"'^  S  nut  S.  herinseiluity  to  gr.ess  the 
little  ouU.reali,  was  ""^t*  n>y  P»^"''^",.,  .motive,  her  ladyship's 
cuse  of  it,  and  to  attr^^u^  e        o  Us  rod  m         ,  ^^^^^.  ^^^^.^ 

niolherly  preoccupation  about  he.  so^^^^^^^  ^^,^  „„,  ^wd 

bad  tempers,  we  know  f rom  t  le  '^«2  "^  ..jih  all  her  sweet- 
rtomestic  exper  ences  and  1'"  yJ£^Sl'rame..t.  And  just  then 
uess.  aliltle  ''I'^^e^^  ^'"^1,S'' ^l" 'er Jsth^^^  condition-one  by  no 
her  frame  was  in  a  f""^,^^^*'^^''  ^J^^'n^^^^  svbich  the  poor,  anxious 
means  favorable  to  be  In  t  ™H^^i,,„,,«,  „„.i  pirjued  to  the 
mother,  weaned  and  excited  Dy  "p^;".  .  ^^     impoliiic  I'.^n-ton, 

S  by  that  tell-tale  radiance  on  the    '^^e  "t^^'-,   ,J„,,,,„,  i,,teacl 
wasdisposedto  adopt.     Tic  jounfe^^a^^^^^^^^  .     ^„^^  „„  sooner 

ot  «aitiuR  for  the  attack  to  l.cl,clon^^^^^^^^         ^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^  j^.^^., 

had  she  and  her  «»«.  f .""^J^jJ  aon's  hou  e).  Ilv.u  she  said, 
when  she  was  on  a  visit  to  her  ^o"  s  u        >  contumacious 

"  1  am  afraid,  dear  aun    you  w.l    ^^  '  ^^^  ^^i,;?'  ^propriety  the 

criminal,  for  I  <l-n't.^,«;;  "''',,  ^^^'^^^"syo'^^  , 

earl  and  1  have  f '"'"",«  .™p  "sunrise  at  Lady  Blanche,  whose 
Her  ladyship  lp'!l^«i:^'''X".'^ave  [i ,"  «' '"'"  *n<l'«"tion  that 

firm  tone  and  >'^'J-'>'^'^"^,^J,"„ 'Sot  r^^      to  be  meekly  received, 
her  aunt's  proposed  correclion  was  not  t,^         sometimes  had  beeii 

matio  and  self-willed.  inwardly  nettled 

..       .'  Well,  my  clear,''  saUlthe  countess  who  w^nw^^^ 

by  the  rather  perempory  5^«1^'°°  J/'Sed  to  avoid  any  unpleas- 
her  to  explanations  but  «horeany  d^^^o     j.t  only  to  b-- said 

antress.  "  y<»>  see  th're  aie  certain  i"  '  ^  j  ^f^^  f„,„iiy.  Don  t 
and  done  among  ourselv  s  «  th^  ^^\"  fi^'^^yg  such  a  little  scene-a 
you  think  that  it  was  rather  IPf '^^[•fl;„  .^  ^^  your  cheeks -some 
peitect  little  scene,  my  dear  Blancl.e-teais  o.   i 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


ms 


iliment  of  rfbelHon 
ilicl  not  fi^el  111.  all 
oniauly  Ceelini:  be- 
•»  rffereiicf-  to  him 
V?   Well,  gentle  or 
I'lj  is  never  au  eiisy 
,  by  the  most  care- 
idie  had  iu  a  sense 
xl  bnd   vouchsafed 
iisaeroi^atory  to  the 
hi!  subject,  ot  those 
•  that  boy.  " 
of  the  worlil- would 
i8l  weapon  to  level 
I)  she  is  vouuL'  and 
:,  that  object  is  one 
one  knew  hotter,  or 
Lhe    sterling,  manlv 
Ltedheiselt  to  speak 
:he,  suriiriscil  at  this 
jrenuitv  to  .lir.ess  the 
)tivc,  iier  ladrshiij's 
veo  nniiels  may  liave 
!  (levilnnd  our  own 

with  all  her  sweet- 
iieiit.  And  just  then 
;ondition— one  by  no 
ioli  the  floor,  anxious 
■ss,  !ind  iiiriiifd  to  the 
ho  impoliiic  I'^iirton, 
ced,  resolved,  instead 
ilh'il;  and  no  sooner 
devoted  to  the  latter 
\^iu  she  said, 

11  very  contumacious 
wliat  impropriety  the 
displeasure." 
Lady  Blanche,  whose 
ly  clear  indiciitionthnt 
to  lie  meekly  received. 
1  Romctinies  had  been 
V  with  Eood-humored 
e  the  younii  lady  hni 
to  make  lier  too  do;^- 

was  inwardly  nettled 
;r  niece  had  summoned 
to  avoid  any  tinpleas- 
iit  ought  only  to  b.-suid 

of  the  family.  Don  t 
ire  such  a  little  scene -a 
on  your  cheeks— some 


pettishnoss  in  your  voice— espocially,  ycu  know,  before  that  yDiim: 
person—"  '' 

"  What,  my  dear  aunt,  Georce  Barton?"  cried  the  younc;  lady  in 
a  tone  of  raillery.  ■>       o       j 

•'  Gracious  goodness,  my  dear,  wlial  are  you  coming  to?  Yoti 
mentioi:  this  young  peison's  name  with  a  familiarity  which  uston- 
ishcsme— '' 

'•  Why,  my  dear  atuit,  what  do  you  mean?  George  Bitrton  is  one 
of  Charlie's  best  friends,  and  almost  one  of  the  family." 

"Oli:"  cried  the  countess,  deeply  oilendcd  by  Lndy  Blanche's 
tone,  and  more  by  her  manner,  liotli  t)eing  frivolous  tind  provoking, 
(Tlie.se  '-'/(/«(■(■«  of  feminine  expression  nre  indescribable,  unless  one 
employed  (laerent  colored  inks  and  various  fonts  of  type  to  whicli 
our  publisher  unreusonalily  objects.)  "  Oh!  '  almost  one  of  the  fam- 
ily I'     1  hat,  my  dear,  is  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  of  all  the  ex- 
traordinary things  1  ever  licard  you  say.    Tlds  young  person— a 
most  worthy  and  excellent  j'oung  man,  for  whom,  in  his  place,  1 
have  a  great  (leal  of  esteem— you  speak  of  in  such  terms  as  that! 
Truly,  1  think  it  is  time  that  some  one  should  offer  you  a  little 
kindly  advice,  for  you  are  strangely  wanting  iu  discretion.     No 
wonder  the  young  gentleman  perinitted  liimself,  even  in  the  solemn 
circumstances  in  which  he  is  placed,  to  look  at  you  to-day  with  u 
broadness  of  familiarity  which  1  can  (issure  you,  my  dear    to  me 
was  perfectly  startling,  if  that  is  the  light  in  which  you  allow  him 
to  suppose  you  view  him.  '  Almost  like  one  of  the  family,'  indeed' 
Is  (hill,  think  you,  the  footing  upon  which  the  earl  receives  him?" 
Lady  Blanche  bit  her  lip.    She  was  vexed  that  her  aunt  had  sur- 
prised young  Barton's  look,  which  she  hoped  had  escaped  unnoticed 
by  anv  one  but  herself.     However,  in  rather  impolitically  letting  this 
out,  the  countess  had  shown  the  cause  of  these  tears.    She  had  seen 
with  what  perfect corectness  her  niece  had  treated  Barton's  too  pro- 
nounced admiration;  yet  her  jealousy  on  l^ord  Tilbury's  behalf  had 
prompted  the  Busi)icion.  quick  as  lightning,  that  there  must  have 
been  some  previous  indiscielion  or  unconscious  fanuliarlty  on  her 
niece's  part,  or  the  young  man  would  never  liave  so  far  forgotten 
his  position.    Lady  Blanche,  tor  all  she  was  not  an  accomplished 
woi  uiling,  traced  the  threads  of  this  little  movement  on  the  part  of 
lier  aunt  quite  accurately,  and  a  certain  annoyance  and  defiance 
against  .i  arose  in  lier  heart.    Thus,  by  a  series  of  the  minutest  and 
most  petty  provocations,  tlie  two  women  who  loved  each  other  with 
such  sincerity,  and  had  not  an  atom  of  a  desire  to  be  other  than 
true  and  loyal  lo  their  allectiou,  were  gradually  working  up  to  a 
crisis  of  discord. 

For  Lady  Blanche  tossed  her  head,  and  there  was  a  fine  movement 
of  her  delicate  nostrils  which  meant  mischief.  She  did  not  con- 
descend lo  laugh  oft  her  aunt's  suspicion,  which  was  the  most 
politic  course,  or  explain  it  away,  which  was  the  proper  thing  to  do; 
but  she  boldly  accepted  the  imputation  and  proceeded  to  defend  it 
—a  course  which  can  only  be  characterized  by  us,  who  know  the 
exact  state  of  affairs,  to  have  been  most  tortuous  and  vexatious 
But  this  comes  of  "  putting  up  the  monkey  "  of  a  .spoiled  vouni; 
belle.  .She  retorted  upon  her  aunt,  whose  remark  the  reader  will 
linu,  we  fear,  in  the  preceding  page. 


A    WEEK    OF     PASSION. 

.  »i  ii.P  ftoti  of  a  nentleman  whom 

..  George  Barton  my  am  ';;»"»i^*«£  fr  enlls  he  ever  had.     Ho 

n,v  tutlicr  speaks  o  ."f.""^^;;/'' n?' also  said  that  ihc  son  was  as 

Baid  80  only  hist  ni^ht  '''■,^''""^,';,„"„s  tiir  more  able  and  (>e-tiiin  to 

^orihyus'histulher.onlyl    thc^^^^^^^^^^^ 

i>,.vfi  .1  bri'.litinl  career.     Chat  lie  ana  i  i  lu.camn  a  mau, 

s  nee  we  V ero  iu  lou«  clothes,  and  f,^^^^'^'^'  opinion.  1  freely 
1  elm  always  been  reec  ved  "8  '»  ^  .^"J' ^  X.m  1  have  n>el  is  able 
eis  that'no  man  of  |'«  "f„'',X'^Sted.  and  examined  her 
to  hold  a  camlle  to  hun        /  '';,^"  '""  i^iy.     "  1  mean,  ot  eonise. 

ece  Willi  a  face  ot  a  most  ^  f  ^.'^r^s  knowle.ige  and  talent  and 
T^T'  ^ller^r  ii.  n  ^f  mJ^^  ^^«uished  air  and  h..her  breed- 

^^t.  vST^ef  of  ^[-I^j-Jl^D/gnhe  cour^te..  who  durirrg  this 

••Whv   my  dear  Blanche,     <^}^" '^,.,_,t    „nd  to  reco'inize  the 

long  speech  had  had  time    »  «»  J-^^^J;,  ^J,;,  ,\g.  •'  1  .nnst  say  you 

hrnLrer  of  the  ground  on  which  "»CJ  wtn.  i  h  ^^^  ^^  ^^^y 

e  my  chivtlrous  in  «1«^?"^«  *    >'\'^  -ou  •discreet  old  aunt  here 

well     It  is  tortunule  mere  '%'^,'^/;"^ ''\\,,  " your  pa.tisan.hip  is  per- 

worthy  vount;  man."  onmo  neople  would  thinU- tried  to 

Tlius'llie  eountess-adroi  Iv.  some  peopc  ^^^  ^^^^ 

so^te  tile  young  l'^'^'/ j"^" iron  t h^  J.her  side,  before  the 
souiewhat  iionic  tender  «f  ^^"^^^.J'"!^  u  shut  up  the  young  lady 
:"uarrel  was  HClna. ly  enj^aged    ^as  ^  ^^^  "."Sr  nlned 

t^rthe  moment,  ami  ^ojf.'^  T"**"      left 


Ueca  something  f \"'"1\'  "L^S^liuir'as  mo  her  ami  daughter.    Since 
words.)    "  Now  let  us  tniktogctuu  as  imimnte  with  you 

your  own  mother  ^ied  no  one  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^,^^,  or  loves  you  bet- 
tl»- I-rdri\rcSKi  ove\  and  look  Blanche's  hand 

Lud  S  i  in  her  own.  <"'"«f  "KJ^orsS'to  exhibit  some  reciprocal 
'^  Tie  young  lady  tried  1°  t«[,^«  ^'^'ite  moment  she  was  on  her 

-^S'^:^ii;z^lSetS^ '"^ 

Sgmvted  an  uiTectionate  Pfsivity.  ^^^^  ^^^  countess  j 


I  jientleman  whom 
ho  ever  Imii.     Ho 
Imt  llie  son  was  as 
able  and  ce-tain  to 
ni  hliu  iili.iosl  ever 
?  lie  luciuno  a  luau, 
ly  opinion,  1  frfcly 
I  1  Liivc  nifl  is  able 
.,  und  cxiiniined  lier 
['  mean,  ot  conisc,'' 
Mlge  ami  talent  anil 
lir  and  lii!J;Uer  breed- 

iiBB.  who  during  this 
ind  to  reco'inize  the 
1,^  "  I  must  say  you 
;   ,uid  you  do  it  very 
li'scrcfl  old  aunt  liere 
r  piutisaiiKliipisper- 
wn8  tlie  leeipient  or 
,ni(!  crimson,  for  tills 
4akevou.     Don't  let 
on      1  will  own  that 
ct  of  all  the  virtues, 
m'tencourfgehini  to 
,ke  a  wrecic  ot  a  very 

(vould  thinU- tried  to 
V  the  elllcacy  ot  this 
ithcr  side,  liefore  the 
nut  up  the  youus:  lady 
vicloiy;  butwcUnow 
the  superiority  gaineU 
isis  has  been  rcveised 
'  force  and  arms. 
,  ot  her  face  changing 
ir  let  us  talk  of  some- 
t  '   I'oot  dear  Edwurd, 
"ot  dar.ger— unless  tn- 
Bliglit  stress  on  these 
r  and  daughter.     Since 
nore  intimate  with  you 
lictler  or  loves  you  bei- 
id  took  Blanche's  hand 

exhibit  some  reciprocal 
moment  she  was  on  her 
trapped  into  any  display 
opes.  She  therefore  re- 
iltitude  which  might  be 

'  pursued  the  countcssj 
to  anx  one  who  did  not 


A     WKEK    OF    PASSION. 


105 


know  vou  as  well  as  1  do  it  migiit  sconi  to  be  very  strange  and  ro- 
manlic.  proved  lo  me  how  sincerely  ynu  value  aiid  reciprocate  my 
alleclion." 

"  That,  my  dear  aunt,"  snld  Lady  iJlanche,  warmly,  as  she  Uis.sed 
tht  cheek  ot  the  stately  woman  beside  her,  "  did  not  require  any 
fresh  demonstration,  riioi)e." 

"  No;  but  this  peculiar  '  demonstration,'  as  you  call  it,  was  one 
that  1  iiiul  no  right  to  look  for.  one  which  only  a  girl  of  your  rare 
force  ot  character  and  indt'pcndence  would  make;  anil  iillliough  1  iini 
far  from  approving  ol  it  in  the  abstract  "— tliecounlesssmileil  — "  it 
wiiH  very  pleasant  imd  loucliiug  in  the  concrete.  Now,  my  dear, 
yeslerdiiy  1  took  the  only  rig'it  and  honoiablo  course.  1  .should 
never  have  forgiven  myself— tiowever  strong  tlio  temptation— had  1 
taken  advaulayeot  your  romantic  geii'.nosity  and  young  inexperienco 
to  bring  about  a  result  wliiub  1  desire  and  pray  fi)r  with  all  my  heart 
anil  .soul.  1  have  lookeil  society  thiough  and  through,  and,  (pies- 
tion  of  forluue  and  all  that  i|uile  apart,  1  tell  you,  though  you  aro 
my  own  niece  there  is  no  woman  whom  Tilbury  could  find  so 
worthy  to  lie  his  wife,  and  to  fill  the  high  station  to  which  it  has 
pleased  God  to  call  liim." 

The  countess  still  had  about  her  some  of  those  old-fashioned 
euperstitions  which  now  charm  the  hearer  because  ot  the  contrast 
ot  the  naive  and  simple  archaic  oddity  with  the  neat,  exact  precision 
ot  modern  skepticism. 

Lady  Hlanche  remained  silent.  She  would  dadly  have  given  up 
every  hope  she  had  ot  foituue  to  have  recalled  or  wiped  out  that 
act  of  yesierday.  The  dilllculty  she  now  had  to  encounter  was  how 
to  reconcile  her  altered  lone,  atliliide,  feelings  of  to-day,  with  that 
impulsive  ettusion;  how  lo  explain  to  her  aunt  that  in  'twenty-tour 
hours  hir  generous  tcelings  had  all  vanished,  ami  given  jjlace  to  n 
solemn  conclusion  that  she  had  made  a  mislake— one  tliat  must  not 
be  repented  under  any  inducements.  She  Ir.'mbled  as  she  thought 
how  nearly  impossible  it  was  to  make  Ihe  countess  a  confldanle  of 
the  tiaiu  of  influences  wliicli  hadeflected  so  sudden  a  change  in  her 
feelings,  or,  to  speak  more  accurately,  had  so  suddenly  chilled  the 
enthusiasm  of  her  self-devotion.  T^ady  Tilbury  would  look  upon 
her  as  hopelessly  volatile,  and  frivolous,  and  Blanche's  conscience 
added,  "  with  very  good  reason." 

"  Now  yesterday,"  continued  the  countess,  "  1  was  not  so  certain 
--though  1  was  tolerably  sure  ot  the  stale  of  Edwunl's  feelings 
toward  you— as  1  am  to-day.  Dearest  Blanche,"  said  the  countess, 
drawing  the  gill's  head  down  on  her  liosom,  and  thus  concealing  Ihe 
scarlet  blushes  which  began  to  mantle  her  young  cheeks,  "  lie  has 
spoken  to  me  very  freely,  and  there  is  no  doubt  liiat  the  feelings  he 
enljrtains  lor  you  are  such  as  you  would  desire  to  find  in  the  man 
who  was  to  become  your  husband,  those  ot  deep  and  strong  aflec- 
tion.  In  fact,  he  put  it  in  his  own  blunt  way—'  Blanche  or  no- 
body.' 1,  of  course,  did  not  breathe  a  word  to  him  ot  what  had 
passed  between  us." 

Blanche  started.    She  did  not  like  this  apparently  needless  denial 
of  what  would  have  iieen  a  shameful  breach  of  confidence. 
"  Oh,  1  should  think  not,  Aunt  Dora!" 
The  countess  certainly  had  "  not  breathed  a  word  to  him  of  what 


r. 


A    WEEK    OF    I'ASSIOJT. 


asks  to  Nce  you.  Bj:  uc  e.     J/  «  ""''//V.'Xa ,    i3,a„cUc  released  her- 

.Ic'S'io.  wlml  10  .»>■.    J-o»  '°°^-r,'T  "IrvOT  ilv-not 

"■■^'•^My  dear,  my  denr!''  cried  the  countess,  "really  such  expres- 
sions^ ire  quite  '""^kcicled  '•  j^^j  j^i^, 

'■'"i  ff"'mW  (he  coimln.  to  Mrseli,  while  a  chill  went  tUrnugh 
the  e<lee  ot  a  gull  »hich  rnnic  people  call     11  a  all  "P- 


loyal  imd  true  ns 
ileiise  lior  fou,  she 
liiiii),  wiihoiit  con- 
■oulil  uot  lie  Indis- 

Ilml  sIk;  broken 
inl  ciiwiiisliy  wltli 
reiuleis,  when  tlic 
answer. 

u  countess,  "  the 
ixritcd,  and  conse- 
^s,  it  nt  I  lie  moment 
so  (or  a  louK  time, 
ind  intensity.    Ho 

You  iiHisI  at  least 
anclie  released  licr- 
ler  teet,  listened  to 
;  1  only  asK  you  to 
tes.  You  need  not 
erday— do  not  fjive 
iit  oh,  Blanchel  I 
juld  love  him,  and 
hands  in  a  gesture 

e  nervously  twisted 
lear  before  her  as  a 

[U  on  her  heart,  "  1 
ij-_l  told  you  ex- 
ras  very  silly— not 
some  stupid  Idea  ot 
er  weariness  ot  the 
unities  of  a  lot  ot 
led,  with  savase  en- 

really  such  expres- 

,  we  are  not  talking 
,ull,  you  di'clin<!d  to 
ou  set  me  thinking, 
lerous  nature  of  the 
dear  motlier's  words 

I  chill  went  through 
lere  was  that  aftair 
once  begins  to  act  on 
r  thoughts  paused  on 
It's  all   up!"— "she 

lanche  continued: 
t  lesppcllng  my  own 
filue  of  that  aflection 
old,  ot  guarding  my- 
my  real  feelings,  ana 


A    WEEK    OK    f.VSSION. 


1(J7 


of  not  iiUnwIng  any  merely  exlt-rnal  or  social  coneideraHons  to  mis- 
lend  my  judgment," 

"  Tliiit,  my  dear,"  said  the  countess,  Drusquoly,  "  was  a  '  fail '  of 
your  mother's— a  vnlnar  word,  but  permit  me  to  use  it;  and  that 
Ian  gentinieiit  requires  to  be  tuUen  with  miiny  qualillcatious.  Kx- 
ternal  and  social  considerations,  I  can  tell  vou,  have  an  immcn'^o 
deal  to  do  with  Ihe  sympathy  and  the  lia[)|)ii"iens  of  two  peoi'lt;  who 
are  linked  together  Irrevocably  for  llieir  lifetime,  anil,  if  tliev  aro 
not  everything,  tliey  can  not  sately  be  disregarded.  I  never  l<ne\v 
them  10  be  treated  with  contempt,  or  absolutely  overlooked,  with- 
out causing  unhaiipincss,  and  sometimes  even  crime  and  wrong- 
donig.  These  words,  I  fear,  are  your  own  words,  my  dearest 
Blanche,  and  an  exaygcration  of  vour  mother's  principles.  But  Miere 
you  know,  all  her  friends  thought  that  she  was  soaietinies  a  little 
erratic  in  hei  views  on  those  (picstions. " 

•  You  can  not  wonder,  Aunt  Dora,  if  1  think  she  was  perfect 
and  1  only  wish  1  could  share  all  her  good  (|ualitie8  at  the  expense 
of  her  faults,  If  she  had  any.  Thank  Heaven  1  can  remember  noth- 
ing of  her  that  \\as  not  suprenielv  noble  and  generous!  Next  to 
her,  1  put  you  among  my  household  gods;  but  it  you  love  me,  or 
would  continue  to  hold  the  first  plac(  in  my  heart  of  all  my  living 
Idols,  you  will  never  breathe  a  single  breath  on  the  memory  of  mv 
dear  mother." 

Everything  was  noble  and  touching  about  this  little  speech  as 
the  countess  remarked,  admiring  the  words,  the  tone,  the  attitude 
the  emotion  which  trembled  on  the  lips  and  sparkhd  dew-like  oil 
the  lone  lashes  of  the  violet  eyes.  The  elder  lady  rose  and  drew  the 
girl  to  her  bosom,  where  for  a  minute  oi  two,  in  the  revulsion  ot 
her  overcharged  feelings,  the  beauty  of  the  season  relieveti  herself 
by  a  little  storm  of  sobs  and  an  Apiil  shower  ot  tears.  The  countess 
was  quite  conquered.  She  tilt  that  this  was  no  ordinary  heart  which 
.  throbbed  against  her  own,  no  commnniilace  woman,  whose  chief 
qualities  lay  in  the  frail  loveliness  ot  Outer  form  and  the  charms  of 
expression,  bat  a  true,  fine  type  of  a  noble  race.  She  was  all  the 
more  to  be  coveted  for  a  rtaughler-inlaw;  but  the  mother  tlieo 
vowed  that  nothing  should  induce  her  to  do  aught  to  disturb  Ihe 
free  action  of  this  pure  and  generous  nature. 

"  Would  that  I  were  blessed  with  such  a  daughter  as  vou  my 
own  loved  Blanche!"  said  the  countess,  as  a  tear  drojij^ed  from 
her  cheek  and  mingled  with  those  of  her  niece;  "  but  only  if  vour 
^own  heart  and  will  come  with  you.  Only  trust  mo  tn^lv,  and  all 
that  1  can  do  to  secure  you  the  perfect  happiness  you  deserve  shall 
be  done." 

Peace  having  tlms  been  proclaimed,  the  two  women  enga'  ed  in  a 
long  conversation,  in  which  Lady  Blanche  frankly  disclosed  to  ber 
aunt  the  state  of  her  heart,  as  she  had  analyzed  and  determined  it 
only  a  few  hours  before.  One  thing  she  did  not  refer  to:  it  was  Ihe 
interesting  figure  ot  George  Barton,  which  had  so  shadowy  and 
furtive  a  place  in  her  thoughts  that  she  did  not  deem  it  necessary  to 
aJvert  to  it.  Blanche  did  not  yet  herself  kiiow  why  that  earnest 
longing  had  come  upon  her  to  keep  her  heart  tree— for  what  spirit- 
guest  it  was  that  the  fair  apartment  wa3  to  be  swept  and  garnished. 
Outwardly  preserving  a  perfect  composure,  but  with  an  inward 


168 


A     AVF.KK    OF    PASSIOX. 


cent  ,.,.,irtnu.nl  ^''^'V,  ,, 'i''\,  ;.  .p.  .Inn.-  will,  iho  j..int  l-Mp  of 
tokTnl.1.-.  nn.  even  "^  .  " 'h  .  '  ,  .'ool  sul..lu..l  liul.t.  an  ,itn.o«- 
Bclcnco  nn.l  a  Toe  on.  J.  ^     ^   '     ,;  ,  ,1,,.  iiiMmvol  of  a  ni.  k-.'l.mnber 

nii.iui:  ao'l  ^y'VI^'^'^nrri,^    o^^  n  o  tl.  •  'lux  nl..'r  of  «nlYerln^. 
,,ri,,«  a  freMU.fe  an.l    r^'^^^^^^^^^^^^  ,„,  „y  the  pillows. 

The  youn?;  imrl,  |  al.;  »"  '  \'^  " '^.'J  ::„,Us  .  t  tho  llnest  linen,  with 
an.l  8uMoun.lo.l  l.y  ''V;'  "^  1  ,?,'..  nMws.-  Th.*  --'low  of  n.nnly 
1,,«  eves  half  hI.'U  'J";!^";',  ''^  ^  ^.u  , '  l"  l.oviHh  tullne.sB  from  his 
Leallii  ha.l  Rone  fr"n>  I  ^  >'^"- '  ;.  ,„  ,,,,  ,^11  loreheu.l  nn  even 

ulicctionntely. 

"  Poor  old  Dolly!    she  «'""•  wm palled  l>v  his  cousins  and 

This  was  the  nickname  hv  ^^»'"''  /\'^.,^„''f,,f  .^  t «rf  It  probably, 
mtlmntes.  and  which  >'"<'  "'J^^^^  J/^'^o  h  tact  ihat  it  had  no 
like  most  nicknames,  owed  »9  ""h'"^"  , ,        {..stene.l.  or  it 

precise  applicability  to  the  pe    on  on  ^  '^^^  j  ^^'Jn.'n.ion  to  rostnme 
SiajMmve  been  given  bun  iKvm^^  ^j^,  ^^^       ,^^,,,    „a 

and  toilet.     On  her  'P*''"^",;"',,,' extreme  limits  ot    cousinly 

^?^M:a:S''.Sa;:;K  'n^^:^  -r  you  to  .me:  u 

makes  me  foel  better  to  see  > on!  thin,  but  still  nervous 

„l,lcU  s|»rUh«l  »lllj  I*"'";,.  ,.,,,  „i|li  «  1IUI«  Jotccl  kusli  to 

o„;rr.«s„.ro".'  „.?r  »&.  .«r  *  ^  .ot .,» „»«  .o 

^l,.l  1  mc«n.    Illy  "";'"•"'"■  ;    ',  i'  n  UnowDollS  no  mo.e,     1 

most  involuntarily.  »"'    Ifeing  *-''V '™^/;,i ./,,«  raise.l  the  little 
made  a  move  to  draw  it  away.    His  e^ es  lui ,       ^^^  ^^^^.^^^ 

hand  to  his  ips,  «n.  le  it  drop.    ^  «,J°^;;,f ^^^  her  breath  held  in 

ioK^S  min^a  S^rt  thil  little  scene  with  eager  eyes,  and 


i 


flg  to  llic  iiinmilfl- 
o  iniiUc   sickness 

Hip  JDiiit  I'llp  of 
(1  liuiit,  Mil  iitinos- 
of  11  HicUclminbeT 
[•(•(I  winters  ot  SI. 
about  Willi  ttracL- 
(IumI,  ntttT  an  ml- 
tlon  lliul  iivnie  to 

of  siill'eiint;. 

p  by  tlie  pillows. 

llni-'st  linen,  with 
in  irlow  of  ninnly 

fullness  from  liis 

fnrelieuil  nn  even 
\liins   liini  appear 

Tlierc    was    also, 
on  and  In  lii»  nnm- 

ni  the  youuj;  ttlrl, 
uul  and  pressed  It 


hy  his  cousins  and 
tiiVf,  It  probably, 
ict  that  it  had  no 
lieen  fastened,  or  it 
attentidu  to  costume 
h  the  prettiest  and 
limits  ot  cousinly 
it  made  him  smile. 

of  you  to  come!    It 

n,  but  still  nervous 
19,  the  blue  depths  of 

Itlle  forced  laugh  to 
had  not  the  heart  to 

nerentman.    That's^ 
ittersall's  as  soon  as 
w  Dolly  no  more.     I 
affection  and  respect 

there  was  no  mlstak- 

ot  his  hand,  and  r.l- 
l)y  the  position,  she 
I;  lie  raised  the  little 
1  lato  was  decided, 
nd  her  breath  held  in, 
e  with  eager  eyes,  and 


A  WEKK   or  MtHioir*  I6d 

she  read  Its  nicaniiii'  willi  tin  >il)ylllno  Inspiration  of  maternal  sdIIcI- 
tude.  She  was  astoulMlied  iti  llic  caimnisH  with  wiiich  her  son, 
l)rK';i>ii;  liliinclie  Id  take  the  claiiir  hv  his  side,  awked  iicr  a  lew  (jues- 
tfons  ahnut  her  ocfiiputions,  w.ih  one  or  two  mischievous  »IIiihIom» 
to  nun  ivhoHC'  attentions  to  liei'  bad  been  conspicuous.  Then  sud- 
denly lie  said. 

"  By  the  way,  have  you  sien  (ii'orife  llarton?" 

He  turned  his  eycN.  wliieh  had  been  inovlnj;  about  with  n  sick 
man's  nstlcsHncss,  lull  upon  IiIm  ncisin's  face  as  lie  put  the  (jueiy, 
and  In  -pile  of  hcrHcIt,  to  lier  liorrorand  vexation,  she  lelt  the  wuriii 
blooil  ll\'  to  lier  ch'rk  as  she  icpllcil. 

"  lie  was  here  just  now  at  lunch  with  the  earl." 

"  Gioriie  llarton  here!"  cried  lie  youii),'  peer,  turning  his  slance 
upon  Ills  mother.     "  I  shoulil  like  to  have  seen  him." 

Tlie  countess  attributed  Liidy  lilanclie's  warm  color  to  the  littlo 
controvcisy  ihey  had  had  dowiiNiairs,  but  she  commanded  her  own 
face  admirably,  and  now  spoke  kindly  ot  "  that  person." 

"Oil,  1  wish  1  had  known  it,  my  dear  boy;  1  tbouKht  it  would 
have  been  painful  to  you.  He  is  very  bii.sy  with  tlio  carl  just  now. 
We  will  try  and  get  him  to  come  and  see  you.  Blanche,  you  can 
nianafie  tliat. " 

"  1  win  tell  the  earl  to  bring  him  again,"  replied  niancho,  with  a 
sliglit  confusion  of  manner,  tor  this  colic fitci'  ot  the  countess  was 
really  too  shamefully  linmorall  "  lie  seeriis  to  have  laken  his  fa- 
ther's place,  and  become  the  earl's  rii.  Id-hand  man.  They  weie  to- 
gether till  one  o'clock  this  morning,  and  they  are  together  now. 
He  suffered  dreadfully  last  night  when  he  heard  the  sad  news  you—" 

The  countess's  finger  ivent  up  to  her  lips  in  a  quick,  terrified 
movement.     But  it  was  too  late. 

"  What!"  cried  the  young  earl,  starting  uneasily.  "  Then  It  was? 
—old  Barton,  then,  is  dead!  Mother— Blanche— tell  me  tho  whole 
truth.  It  only  worries  me  with  excitement  trying  to  make  out  how 
1  came  to  be  here." 

After  giving  him  a  rapid  sketch  of  the  facts,  the  countess  rose 
hurriedly,  and  giving  l^ady  Blanche  a  sign  to  retire,  crossed  the 
rfMHH  to  summon  the  two  nursing  Sisters. 

Blanche  gave  her  hand  once  more  to  her  cousin,  and  ouce  more 
he  Tiiised  it  to  his  lips. 

"  Cousin  Blanche,"  he  said,  in  a  voice  thrilling  wilh  emotion,  but 
with  a  soft  and  gentle  pleadiug  in  his  eyes,  "  forgive  a  poor  sick 
cousin's  fancy,  and  leave  him  a  blessing  which  will  do  no  wrong  to 
the  virgin  purity  of  your  heart.  Give  me  one  kiss  on  my  forehead 
before  you  go. ' ' 

There  was  an  instant's  hesitation,  but  looking  into  his  eyes  she 
read  there  the  epitaph  of  a  hopeless  passion. 

She  stooped  quickly  and  kisseil  Ids  brow. 

"  Thank  you!"  he  said;  and  he  closed  uis  eyes. 

Blanche  silently  left  the  room.  She  knew  that  nothing  had  hap- 
pened which  ought  to  alter  her  decision  in  the  least,  and  yet— her 
heart  had  almost  melted. 

The  countess,  who  haJ  slopped  to  give  some  diiections  to  the 
nurses,  returning  to  the  room  fojnd  that  Blanche  hai  left.  She 
approached  the  bed  unperceived.    The  young  earl,  his  eyes  shut, 


.1 


r.o 


WEEK    OE     l'AS>inN. 


coutBfil  down  liiit  flii't-'lv. 

c,/,-.  inHis,..m...  in  this  "-;^^'^ -"  ;,  ^    ^'  .^ "hJn^J:!  ."hcr.elt, 
••  iiv  Ur.  way.  C'oU..i  s  •'''''  Zi   1    «  it  11  oaii.  1  woudci?     1  uiu 

teiious!  '  


cnAPTF-n  XV, 


TllK   NKT   TIl.in'KNIXfi. 

a,  ,t  wns  bein,  driven  n.plJly  ivom^^Scotlaml  Janl 


In  Che  cmipe-  as  it  ^"^  '"''"^u  ..T  l  ee  excluin«.Hl  between  the 
earl  ami  GeorL'e  Barlou,  ^^hill ,  lu  "[ '"  \,_  .emarkable.  so  crit- 
ot  the  pHV.hofosical  P''V'""f  "' "!,,  'f  ,e  c  an  iters  whose  tales, 
ical.  big  with  'i'«^''-'«^°if„l?,,^;"'  emne  cS^  within  the 

Se'i.'^S"  w"4^o7;«yi-iTis':^"tial  that  the  reader  should    . 

ovciheai.  ,     „    , 


;,  1.-  said  the  earl.  '-^^^"^i^V^^^Cm^^ 
"  your  K'-ne'^""^'"«\"  't'h^eS     11    ttke^^^     suspects  more 

'^^p^^i^^^^^  Br  »■ "» '• 

looked  silently  out  of  the  window,    lie  could  not  speak. 


li;;  riuliallit'  ot  l\ 


r.     Mother,  1  lUcl 

luulctual  wiiimlU 

ilou  lo  sec  lue.    1 

IK'S!*  of  lUe  young 
l■vo:vin^  it  iu  lier 
inuil  to  lierselt, 
m  Imd  ciillfil  and 
1  woudfi?  1  uiii 
uiilesn— no,  surely 
y  about  his  tatlier. 
ll  is  (luile  u»y8- 


rom  Scotland  Yard 
iQnn<;d  between  the 
111  a  I  rue  conception 
remarkable,  so  crit- 
iracters  whose  lateB, 
•eutrated  within  the 
at  the  render  should 


five  just  taken  is  not 
i)  last  night  that  we 

ef-" 

at  however  uratctul 

lad  1  been  cousidted. 

A  {•oiug  to  work.     1 

may  bo  kepi  out  of 

ihese  men  lo  book." 

fd  10  see  how!" 

ies  it  more  dillicult. 

ready  suspects  more 

lord— forj?iv<;  nic  tor 

ijuaiie  to-tluy,  that  he 

Hhers  In  this  melau- 

ly  revolted  against  the 
t  ot  the  police. 
)r  a  minute  or  two  he 
not  spealL. 


A     WKKK     OK    I'ASSIOX. 


i:i 


Oeoruc  Ilarton  wm  «orry  lo  have  inllicti'd  thN  pain,  hut  It  wim  uu 
Inlimulion  rthich,  ImvlU'r  regard  to  the  foullMH  <"•  wliirh  lie  now 
fctooil  Willi  thf  peer.  It  would  have  been  cowaidly  and  wrt)M^r  lor 
him  til  su|i|ir('f<s. 

"  'I'lmiik  you,"  Raid  the  carl,  preNonlly— "  thank  yon.  It  Is  well 
1  slidiild  know  this,  however  nharply  it  woumls  me.  I  HJiali  liavo 
to  hwmIIov  iiiucli  Mllcnu'SH  before  iiiy  error  ix  luirncd- it  evi  i  it 
may  be— 1(  ever  It  may  be!"  he  added,  shaking  LIh  hoiid  diicon- 
»oliit('|y. 

U'liiit  conlil  (Jeortrc  Harlon  siiy— Iheyonnj,'  lo  the  old— llic  Inex- 
]>crienccd  to  the  velcran  man  of  the  world— the  humble  coiimioner 
to  the  liaiijrhly  arislocral—who  had  uttered  siieli  words  nn  these? 
Once  ||i(>  (liiy  bftore.  in  iIk!  eveiienient  ot  a  passionate  .sceiie,  the 
yo'.mL' mail  had  vcnmred  lo  <'|Tcr  ii  word  of  consolnllon  when  Iho 
iM'ir  bad  bewailed  his  fallen  dij^nily:  but  now,  In  ihis  moment  ot 
cabii  despondency,  lie  fell  Hint  both  hl«  position  and  IiIr  force  were 
lnadc(piiiie  lo  ihu  duly  ot  olTerInu;  friendly  sympalhy  and  encour- 
ui;enieiit  to  such  a  man. 

So  he  kept  siliiil,  and  the  earl  apprecialed  his  delicacy;  for.  so 
trained  were  the  peer'.s  e.vtraoidinary  faculties,  that  H  wiis  almost 
an  insliiict  willi  him  to  observe  and  to  judtre  every  psyclioloi'leal 
phase  of  the  characters  wilh  which  lie  was  in  acliial  eonlaet,  anil 
this  even  in  hours  ot  the  deepest  emotion,  \V1kii  Hie  countess  died, 
and  his  sorrow  was  at  lis  helirht,  a  bishop,  one  of  his  most  intimalo 
irienils,  who  hnd  iillendLiI  at  her  bedside  In  Uie  last  moments,  re- 
mained a  tew  (biys  at  Sell).\.  lie  was  a  man  of  eminent  intellect, 
renowned  lor  his  remiiikable  insiKht  into  human  nature,  his  singular 
power  ot  spjiltual  inliospeetion  and  analysis,  his  sympathy,  his 
social ./(';«'/<«'.  his  relij^ious  worldliness.  So  composite  and  difllcult 
a  characier  was  hardly  ever  submitted  to  human  observation,  \et, 
amid  all  the  sadness  and  preoccupalion  ot  the  earl's  .s|)irit,  by  ua 
almost  unconscious  action  ol  the  minil,  ho  was,  undei  peculiarly 
unguarded  conditions,  aualyzinn  his  Hight  Reverend  friend's  char- 
acter; and  his  iierceplion  ot  its  inner  lights  and  shades,  its  pro- 
founder  faults  and  excellencies  was  at  that  time  so  keen,  so  exact, 
so  Intense,  that  when,  some  years  alter,  the  bishop  died,  and  the 
earl  recalled  the  judgment  ho  had  then  formed,  he  was  himself  as- 
tonished at  the  .justice  and  accuracy  of  his  appreciations,  although 
they  hail  not  for  one  moment  diverted  liim  from  his  overpowering 
grief.  The  same  klml  of  parallel  action  of  the  laeullies  lakes  placu 
in  the  familiar  instance  ot  Ihe  orator  when  a  train  of  tbouglit  sug- 
gested by  some  face  in  the  auilience  Is  carried  on  in  one  seel  Ion  ot 
the  biaiu,  while  the  main  argument  ot  the  speech,  with  all  appro- 
priate emphiiMis  and  action,  is  being  pursued  with  uuiutenupted 
clearness  and  force.  But  the  earl's  faculty  was  much  finer  in  de- 
gree. 

Having  reflected  for  a  few  minutes,  and  recovered  his  calm,  he 
turned  to  his  companion  and  said, 

"  You  are  young  to  be  a  witness  of  these  emotions,  the  confidant 
of  these  painful  and  comptoraising  secrets;  but  1  am  gratified  to 
see  how  modestly  you  face  so  novel  an  experience.  1  have  tot  long 
been  accustomed  to  measure  the  true  capacity  of  a  man  by  the  con- 
scious or  unconscious  estimate  he  forms  ot  his  own  forces.    The 


t 


tr^ 


'A 


r,'i 


A     WF.EK    OF    PASSION. 


eI„.ciou.  cs,in.nt..  -hid.  Is  o^Y  tU;>  aevejoped  .^ 

failB  from  -?'*l^"*tV/iL  3,^1.^1.  bcah  to  un.lcrvulu.;  r.ud  over- 
in.leflnilc  (isl.male  x  .id.  1?'  ''^  '  J^'"^,  odeliberntdy  sits  down  and 
val..e  Lis  own  rowers  \  ^^J)^,'',/',  o^^si  „„a  is  ra.x-  Tl.e  other 
cavetully  culcu'iues  his  "^ "  "f,^;'JX  ^h.nrters.  .lust  now  an  im- 
constunlly  '"i*'^'^''"  '''^■«-  '°So  '  wo  hnve  sai.l  son.fthing  to 
p,Usive  younK  man  ...  f '"  ,^!^  ^^^eviS ,  iLe  man  of  the  ^vo.•l(l, 

done  to-day."  r.rr.lml)lv  unable  at  the  moment  to  ap- 

Eveu  Oeorge  naion  ^f^  P™|^?^k  5^^,"^^^^^^   bad  extricated  both  of 

preciatr  the  ex-imsUc  ^^^^.^J^^^^^^^^^^  con.plin.ent  bvonght 

them  trom  a  paiiinl  e™^''^™^^'?]^  ,' ".  ..je  sense  to  feel  that  any 

?Jlfl;!;;jl:{J;reln&r^Sr^^ 

Sd  ss  :Si^Si  s^M^t^=>i  100.,  .hich 

Sflrmed  the  i-tice  of  the  eurVs  o,.mon  ^^^,,,,,,,,,  ^e 

"Now,"  pursued  the  1'^^,  -V„^^^f,\„  nVrse  his  suspicions,  base 

will,  for  the  present,  leave  J^^" ':°"\^f,,S,    'u"  °o^v  was  hardly  one 

as  they  are     Ion  see  tl^J^t  the  st.p  1  tooK  i  ^,^^^,^,  ,^^^^ 

about  which  1  could    «"ly  ^;^^;^^^^^^         It  was  clearly  my  duty  to 

yo.ir  father  in  my  'i'*"^*^- '''^"^ ;  "^ '  ^°"y^i\  i  ^ould  have  asked  or 
"  My  lord,  it  was  very  generous,  ii  -was  an  x  ^ 

•wished."  /,„„,„„  and  that  deserves  no  credit;  though, 

"  "  ^'"',r^  SI;  fn  t^'semsroV  r  c«lturecl  a^e,  the  simple 
as  the  world  is  going  m  }^'»  ^^'"=^''  credit  than  it  deserves." 
right  is  getting  so  rare  as  »«  »'^"°^S„unt,"  said  George  Barton 
•'The  only  thing  ♦»'»*  s  „^  hCs  vou  into  direct  conflict  with 
-was,  that  this  f"«^'^f'"S  ^^\feeilitates  a  rupture.  1  thought 
K^ptrhtri  mighT  £vXir ;Ul  to  see  them  first,  and  give 
IriSe^ntimattn  «/  your  mtonUons    ^^  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^ 

"  1  thought  ot  tliat  l°o>   ,f  "V{^^"'concludecl  that  the  bolder 

over  the  grave  «™°<J''',.7'l\fiSnV  hem   Slf  take  .etion. 
,«„\T°ev!S' wL'™  foS    Slyl-Mon  L  -or.  CUcl 


ni'tihi  Kciuiiton,  is 
here  anil  there  it 
oiis  is  th"  loose, 
■r value  and  over- 
■ly  sils  down  and 
I  raru  Tlie  other 
.liiBt  now  (in  ini- 
;iU(l  sonu'lhinir  to 
nan  of  the  world, 
i'our  silence  was 
ren  me  a  hic;ber 
you  have  said  or 

lie  moment  to  ap- 
extricaled  both  of 
mplinieiit  brought 
e  to  feel  tlml  nny 
[)  such  words  from 
inane,  and  he  con- 
atetul  look,  which 

ly  explanation;  we 
lis  suspicions,  base 
ow  was  hardly  one 
,e  you  wo\ild  have 
clearly  my  duty  to 
rom  any  further  re- 
publicly  leveled  at 
nsent." 
:ould  Lave  asked  or 

!  no  credit;  though, 
ired  ase,  the  simple 
lan  it  deserves." 
said  Gcorce  Barton, 
direct  conflict  with 
rupture.  1  thought 
them  first,  and  give 

d  tiiere  was  much  to 
idefl  that  the  bolder 
gee  them  afterward, 
veiy  disclosure;  and 
ally  if  our  suspicions 

me. 

ir  losing  our  control 

lurrying.    If  Sontag 

m,  and  take  action, 

I  up  in  the  business, 

snt  with  the  countess 

.0  settle  it." 

le  earl.    "  Disclosure 

ition  is  more  critical 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


i:;j 


than  ever.    The  American  bonds  are  lost;  1  must  make  tliem  good, 
besides  I'aying  ofT  my  sisitcr'h  mortgage,  and  returning  her  money." 

"  Would  it  not  be  best  to  try  and  get  tlie  arrangement  prepaicd 
by  my  father  curried  through  at  once,  before  any  other  steps  are 
taken?  1  umlerstooil  that  he  had  been  introduced  by  the  PoJlanis 
to  a  banker  wlio  agreed  to  find  the  money!" 

"  Yes.     Ilackluyt,  the  Hutcli  banker." 

"And,"  continued  George  Burton,  "  Ilackluj't  consented  to  lend 
a  large  sum  on  the  mortgage  of  tlie  Kensington  Estate?" 

"  yes— 11100,000,  wliich  was  more  than  w.is  wanted  to  clear  us, 
as  we  have  paid  up  out  of  other  funds  the  i,'.';0,000  to  release  tlie 
countess's  bonds,  AVc  expfoled  another  iMO,000  from  the  sale  of  tlie 
Stockton  shares;  but  now  yon  see  the  bonds  liave  vanished!" 

"True;  but  the  certificates  of  the  shares  can  be  produced;  the 
loss  of  the  bonds  is,  f  fear,  irremediable.  Well,  my  lord,  you  only 
owe  the  countess  now  £',5C,000  for  her  cash  advance.  You  require 
another  €50,000  to  clear  her  Jjinton  mortgage;  and  you  must  give 
your  brokers  an  order  tobuj'  €55,000  of  the  United  States  Loan  to 
replace  her  bonds,  felling  her  frankly,  but  simply,  that  her  own 
have  been  lost  or  mislaid.  That  will  take  €60,000  more.  My  tatlier 
fold  me  the  bankers  who  were  advancing  tlie  money  would  readily 
have  doubled  the  sum  on  that  estate  of  yours,  with  you  as  mort- 
gagor." 

"  8o  he  told  me.  Hackluyt,  it  seems,  controls  a  vast  capital  for 
Dutch  and  other  Continental  capitalists,  and  is  always  looking  out 
for  good  English  investments. "' 

"I'hen,  my  lord,  1  would  venture  to  advise  you  to  see  him  before 
seeing  the  PoUards.  Explain  that  your  agent  is  no  more,  that  you 
wish  the  business  concluded  and  the  rn'^ney  paid  immediately,  and 
say  you  are  prepared  to  accept  £160.'J00.  Ilis  solicitors,  Knox. 
Masterman  &  BuUen,  a  very  high-clusd  firm,  have  already  examined 
the  title." 

"But,"  said  the  earl,  "the  mortgage  deed  prepared  between 
them  and  your  father  is  lying  ready  at  Pollards',  or  ought  to  be, 
for  my  siirnuture. "  ' 

"  Those  fellows  will  throw  all  sorts  of  difficulties  in  your  way, 
and  will  refuse  to  give  it  up.  Hackluyt's  solicitors  can  easily  pr«jpare 
a  new  deed  for  tlie  larger  sum,  and  when  you  have  authorized  him 
!()  direct  them  to  do  so.  Pollard  will  see  th(!  uselessness  of  tiying  to 
slop  it.  Happily  the  banker  is  not,  as  they  had  led  you  at  first  to 
believe,  their  own  client,  so  that  you  are  freer  to  act.  Fortunately, 
also,  the  title-deeds  are  at  the  Cnledoniin  Bank,  which  lent  you  the 
money  on  Linton.  You  have  only  to  instruct  Eackluyt  to  pay  oft 
that  charge  and  take  them  over,  releasing  Linton  at  once  and  abso- 
Jutely.  Thus  you  see  you  are  really,  so  far  as  that  arrangement  is 
concerned,  practically  independent  of  Pollard  &  Pollard;  and  if 
Hackluyt,  as  1  don't  do;ibt  he  will,  only  increases  the  amount  of 
bia  loan,  you  w^ill  be  able  to  snap  your  fingera  at  them.  1  hat  once 
airp'iged,  a  cood  deal  of  their  power  is  gone,  and  we  are  free  to  at- 
tach them  on  the  graver  matters." 

"  .Vdmirablnl"  cried  the  earl.  "  Your  head  is  as  clear  as  a  dia- 
moi  d.  I  will  see  Hackluyt,  whom  1  once  met,  this  afternoon,  and 
(he  I  go  on  to  Pollards'.    But  here  we  are  at  Tilbury's.    1  will  get 


174 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


them  lo  irive  us  an  early  lunch,  iind  you  will  allow  roe  to  place  this 
carria-cTit  your  disposal  to  go  a.:d  meet  your  mother  to  whom  you 
must  express  my  sincerest  sympathy.  Blanche  will  take  her  a 
message  tronl  me  this  atternoon." 

»  .  *  *  »  *  *  * 

At  about  half  past  one  o'clock  Mr.  Garbett  entered  the  spacioua 
haU  of  that  old  mansion,  now  No.  155  Lincoln^s  Inn  Fields  which 
'^8  occupied  by  the  great  firm  ol  Pollanl  &  Pollard.  A  the  side 
oithe  ha  I  a  member  ot  the  coipsof  comnumonnaires  s^t  boxed  up 
in  a  class  case,  with  a  sliding  pane  in  front  of  him,  which  admitted 
o"  a  p  rlev  with  visitors.  On  the  wall  outside  the  case,  but  in  view 
of  the  porter,  was  a  frame  exhibiting  the  names  ot  he  solicitors  and 
of  the  head  clerks  ot  the  various  depiirlments.  wUh  slidmg-boards 
onnositc  to  each  name,  on  which  were  the  words  iN  or  •  out. 
The  word  ••out '•  was  visible,  at  that  moment  against  the  name  of 

'tlie  dTSl°UnhiBTu  ataglance.  but,  with  bis  pleasanlest 

manner,  said, 

•  M.  Pollard?" 

"  Which  one,  sir?" 

'•Either."  .      ,       „, 

"  Both  out,  sir.    Your  name,  sir,  please  /  .,       ,  ,        o„ 

"  You're  not  going  to  charge  me  for  asking  the  question,  1  liope? 
said  Mr.  Garbett,  with  a  facetious  air. 

"No,  sir;  but  Iwtnt  to  keep  my  register  correct.  ,   „    „„ 

"  Very  well,  then,  you  can  put  down  the  name  of  Gaibett,  on 
business  trom  the  Detective  Department,  Scotland  iard. 

MrGarbeU,  as  he  said  this,  looked  round  as  it  he  had  come  to 
take  i)Ossessiou  of  the  premises.  The  comtnmionnatre^  have  a  sort 
of  fellow  feeling  tor  the  police,  probably  because  they  are  n  urn- 
formed  to  ce.  The  porter  being,  moreover,  like  every  one  in  the 
Iml^  on  ihegiu  vice  about  Mr.  Barton,  who  was  well  known  by- 
sight  lo"uosl  of  the  clerks,  and  well  thought  of  by  them  ^ecause  of 
his  genilemuuly  bearing  and  kindly  manners,  opened  tlie  door  of  his 
L'lass  box  and  emerged,  with  cuiiosity  in  bis  tace.  «  ,     .•  i 

"  ilave  you  got  any  news,  sir?"  he  said,  in  a  sort  of  confidential 

'''•' NewB  about  what,  my  friend?    1  didn't  come  here  to  see  you." 
The  woriis  were  rough,  but  Mr.  Garbetfs  head  was  on  one  side, 

Qiui  iiis  fiicp  was  ouiiniuglv  good-natured. 
•' Well!"  said  tile  porter,  smiling,"  about  poor  Mr.  Barton,  you 

know,  sir?" 

"  Yes.^^As'n^c"^  a'gentleman  as  ever  entered  the  office-alway* 
pleasant  and  smooth-spoken." 

"  Well,  wi!  luive  news  ot  him,"  said  Mr.  Garbett. 

••  Lor'  bless  my  soul.    You  don't  say  so  now?    Where  is  he? 

"  Did  he  come  here  often?"  Mr.  Garbett  meant  to  have  pay  for 
eich  particular  item  ot  information  couveyed  in  an  item  from  the 

'"  ••%er?fre.iuent  of  late,  sir.    TS  ell,  now.  to  think  of  that!    So 
you've  found—" 


w  roe  to  place  this 
Uier,  to  wlioui  you 
I  will  take  her  a 


lered  the  spacioua 
Inn  Fields,  which 
Hard.  At  the  side 
ures  sat,  boxud  up 
n,  which  ailinilted 
e  case,  but  in  view 
t  the  solicitors  and 
vith  sliding-boards 

J  "IN  "  or  •"  OUT." 

jainst  the  name  of 
rith  his  pleasautest 


question,  1  liope?" 

■ect." 

inie  ot  Gaibett,  on 

id  Yard." 

it  he  had  cooie  to 

mnaires  have  a  soit 

ise  they  are  a  uui- 

.e  every  one  iu  the 

ras  well  known  by 

by  them  because  ot 

ened  the  door  of  his 

sort  ot  confidential 

ne  here  to  see  you." 
lad  was  on  one  side, 

or  Mr.  Barton,  you 


1  the  office— always 

belt. 

7    Where  is  he?" 
cant  to  have  pay  for 
in  an  item  from  the 

)  think  of  that!    So 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


ir5 


"  Yes,"  interrupted  V.x.  Gnrbett,  "  he's  in  kingdom  come,  poor 
iellow.     Hy  ilie  way,  Mr.— ah!  j'cs— what's  your  iiume?" 
"  liiitlcfsliy. " 

"Ah:  DaUcrsby!"  Mr.  Gnrl)ctt  fixed  the  name  in  his  tenacious 
memory.  "  Ilnml  I  believe,  Jlr.  Hattersl)y,  he  was  here,  your 
people  li:iv(;  informed  us.  tlie  very  day  before  lie  disnppoiircd?" 

"  1  cnn  tell  you,  sir,"  said  the  willing  porter,  supposing  he  was 
only  doing  tiis  duty  in  giving  information  to  a  Scotlunil  Van!  gen- 
tleman, •it'll  be  down  in  my  book."  tie  brought  out  his  book, 
witli  an  tnulless  list  of  names  entered  day  by  iluy  tor  almost  everv 
minute  of  tlie  day,  and  running  down  the  pages  with  his  finder 
arrived  at  "  3.iJ5.  Mr.  Rarton." 

"  Here  it  is,  sir,"  he  said;  "  Wednesday,  the  25th— the  very  last 
time  he  was  in  this  olHce." 

"  He  did  not  call  on  Thursday,  now?" 

"  No  sir.    You  can  see  tor  yourself."  ' 

IMr.  Garbett  saw  for  himself. 

Mr.  Garbett  having  got  his  new  acquaintance  into  a  gossiping 
liumor,  stood  there  chaltiug  and  asking  him  a  number  of  questions, 
the  purport  of  which  will  appear  hereafter.  Meantime  the  eomnu's- 
sionnaire  had  resumed  his  .^eat,  and  was  dotting  down  the  names  of 
the  people  who  were  coming  and  going. 

"  So  he's  dead,  sir,"  he  said  to  Mr.  Garbett,  who  stood  at  the 
open  door  ot  his  crystal  den.     "  Poor  man,  how  did  he  die?" 
"  You  know  the  '  Itegenf  Circus  mystery?'- that's  Mr.  Barton." 
Mr.  Battersby  manite.sted  his  astonishment  by  a  gaping  speech- 
lessness. 

' '  Yes,  3Ir.  Battersby— gone  off  like  a  firework— a  human  squib  - 
Mr.  Battersby— such  is  lite,  sir;  such  is  life!" 

"  Ay,'  said  Battersby,  shaking  1  -  head  and  catching  the  infection 
of  commonplace  sentiment,  "  we  never  know  whether  we  are  in  life 
or  in  death." 

There  was  a  curious  movement  in  Mr. 
was  impossible  tor  them  to  twinkle. 

"  1  won't  discuss  that  last  sentiment  with  you,"  he  said.  "  But, 
tell  me:  is  there  no  one  in  the  office  1  can  see  on  this  businessr" 

"  1  don't  know.  sir.  Jlr.  Keik,  the  cliief  clerk's  door,  is  up  that 
corridor  on  tlje  right.  Or,  why  don't  you  go  directly  upstairs  to 
the  princip.ils'  rooms  and  ask  in  the  outer  olfice?  See  Mr.  Grav- 
son."  •* 

This  was  exactly  what  Mr.  Garbett  wanted. 

"  Mr. 1  beg  your  pardon?" 

"Grayson." 

"Grayson?    Very  good." 

31r.  Garbett  proceeded  upstairs  and  entered  the  outer  office,  where 
Mr.  Grayson  was  anchored,  as  usual,  at  his  desk,  and  two  other 
clerks  ivere  scratchini;  away. 

5Ir.  Grayson  was  rather  startled  when  he  saw  the  detective,  whose 
visit  he  considered  to  be  distinctly  inopportune,  and  in  violation  ot 
solemn  pact.    But  Mr.  Garbett,  not  seeming  to  notice  him,  took  oft 
his  hat  and  addressed  a  junior  clem. 
"Mr.  Grayson?" 
The  olil  man  took  the  cue,  and  replied,  '• .         ■'  • 


Garbett's  large  globes,  it 


^8 


176 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


■•  1  am  Mr.  Grayson,  sir.  down-slalrs  by  the 

"  Ob !    Beg  pardon.    I  ^f  """7.  ^jj^r  of  your  principals  on 
porter  for  lntor.nul.on^bcnl  could  see  et^^^^^^  P     ^^i^^  ^^^ 

i"Sel!ep=S  SSYard'lusiness  relating  to  the  dis- 

'TndMr  Grayson  opened  a  door, motioned  to  Mr.  Garbelt  to 
^^J^'i^'^^^'i^-  He  smiled  and  bcM 
out  his  hand.  Oravson?    Wasn't  that  well  done?    Why, 

yo;;?eTt?u^'n,a^"  ?cuCi.  to  have  been  a  detective;  your 

n:^;:;r^?hand.but.i.cg^^ 

to  this  9b<'f  y,nl?i™n  i^r^^^^  Sood  deal  over 

coustramed;  forMr.  Gr  jsonmiu  ^^^  j^^^j  ^pg^j 

!K  trjJ^JSp"  SS^^^^H^  tbilit  irSJ  ar. 

.JgS^tiryrwrd-co-nTL^^^^^^  -  ^y-er.    And.  by 

the  way.  you  said  yo»r  «ame  ^^  ^'H^^^p.,^^  ,1,^  detective,  coolly; 

'■Soit  wa8.m>2«°7'iVdrd  n^^  to  see  you.  bu'  your 

"to-day  it  is  Garbetl,  a°^,i  "'°  "fJL  onswerin^— and  1  mean  to 
principais-with  a  letter  which  -^.^^^'^^^^^^^^.^^'^^ou  uelovs-.  and  no 
wait  tor  the  answer;.  ^"1.  «» J  ^''^;^'™g  n/ere  can  be  no  harm 
one  knows  of  any  commuucation  between  us    n  ^^  ^^^ 

?n  our  improving  t"";'°g  Xt-You  neednTbe  alarmed.  Don't 
of  iniormatiou-quite  unimportant    you  u  ^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^ 

tell  me  fuytb  "g  you  don  t    -k^^^^^^^  ^.^^ 

asking  toi  a  list  of  tli^f  "Of,";"";" ,    ^g  could  give  that  to  me." 
ton;  of  course  only  one  ot  the  Pf ""^\?/'""  1^^^.    There's  been  a 
"'Yes.     We  know  n«*^\^R  J^'^""/.;'  fo  eK"  ^^^  "uth,  we  all 
good  deal  of  trouble  about  them     But.  to  el  you  ^^^^^^  ^^^ 

fhink  there's  been  f"P«  "^^fi**-.,,  Ji  i,e  ddn'l  believe  Mr.  Barton 
r/e^rCaTaytLl'lkr  pTp^s.  "i.^Kelk  knows  what  they  are." 

.•Found!"  cried  G'.7«o°\?';^^'rBave  you  discovered  them, 
Mr  Garbett  was  satistted.        wnai'.    nave  ju 

'""^'o  you  mean  to  say."  said  Mr.  Garbett.  "  that  Mr.  Kelk  did 
not  know  ot  ilV  „„.,i,i  nnt  imvp  Bnokcn  as  he  did.    He 


lown-slalrs  by  the 

youi  principals  on 

ett,    sir,    t'oui  tlie 

relating  to  the  dis- 

r.  CImrlea  has  gone 
nsoon;  Mr.  JosepU 
»  into  the  wailiuR- 

to  Mr.  Garbett  to 

■le  smiled  and  held 

well  done?    "Why, 
m  a  detective;  your 

aw  that  his  response 
I  tact,  was  positively 
ig  a  good  deal  over 
bough  he  had  spent 
ivor  in  his  mouth. 
•1  thought  it  was  ar- 
\>y  letter?    And,  by 

ihe  detective,  coolly; 

0  see  you.  hu'  your 
rini;— and  1  mean  to 
)  you  below,  and  no 
there  can  be  no  harm 
want  an  item  or  two 
Q't  be  alarmed.  Don't 
I've  got  a  letter  here 
)peared  with  Mr.  Bar- 
give  that  to  me." 
itre.    There's  been  a 

1  you  the  truth,  we  all 
our  chiet  clerk,  was 

Irt  believe  Mr.  Barton 

nows  what  they  are." 

nd'." 

•at  Grayson. 

,  an  astonishment  that 

you  discovered  them, 

;,  "  that  Mr.  K(!lk  did 

spoken  as  he  did.  _  He 
ossiping  about  it." 
suddenly  planting  him- 
Hships,  andtixinghim 
ion,  the  chief  commis- 
[  &  Pollard  within  the 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


m 


last  two  hours  stating  that  those  papers  were  found,  here,  in  this 
office,  only  this  morning,  mislaid  or  overlooked  on  your  senior's 
table!" 

Grayson's  under-jnw  dropped,  and  he  jrazed  at  Mr.  Gurbett  with 
an  cNprcssion  of  puzzled  a.stonishment.  He  could  not  speak  for  a 
momeiii  or  two,  and  the  detective,  continuing  to  scrutinize  liis  face 
sharply,  could  see  that  apprehension,  doubt,  suspicion,  were  follow- 
ing upon  surprise.  Mr.  Grayson  was  evidently  recalling  and  piec- 
ing together  things  that  hud  happened  under  iiis  eyes,  and  it  was 
clear  that,  whatever  the  thoughts  which  resulted  from  this  rapid 
ratiocination,  they  troubled  him.  He  was  of  too  poor  a  mental  fiber 
to  hide  his  anxiety  or  his  curiosity. 

"  A  letter  saying  they  have  found  the  papers?"  said  he. 
"  Certainly— on  the  table  of  one  of  the  firm." 

Grayson  said  nothing  by  way  of  comment  on  this  statement,  but 
Mr.  Gari)ett  did  not  require  that  he  should  say  anything,  for  it  was 
plam  enough  that  the  clerk  regarded  the  statement  with  incredulity. 
However,  Griyson  made  a  feeble  effort  to  diplomatize. 

"  You  see."  he  saiil,  "  all  that  business  is  extra-confidential,  and 
none  of  us  knows  much  about  it." 

"  Oh,  it's  all  right,"  cried  Mr.  Garbett,  cheerily.  *•  In  such  a  big 
business  as  yours,  papers  must  very  often  go  astray.  But,  as  they 
■were  found  here,  of  course  Mr.  Barton  brought  them  here." 

"No  doubt.    He  took  a  large  bag  of  papers  into  Mr,  .loseph's 
room— let's  see— it  was  yesterday  week— but  such  a  bagful  as  that 
of  course,  couldn't  get  mislaid."    ' 

"  No;  but  did  he  leave  the  whole  bagful?" 

"  He  must  have  done.  The  bag  was  crushed  up  under  his  arm 
empty  when  he  went  away." 

"  Ahl  well,  then,  it  was  only  a  part  of  them,  no  doubt,  that  the 
advertisement  alluded  to." 

Mr  Grayson  was  refJecting. 

"It's  strange,"  he  said.  "1  never  knew  any  valuable  papers 
mislaid  in  this  office  bpfore.  Everj  thing  is  regularly  docketed  and 
kept  in  its  place." 

"  Ohl  but  in  a  big  business  liKe  this  papers  accumulate— briefs, 
deeds,  and  soon— eh?  I  know  the  sort  of  thing— tables  piled  ud 
with  them."  ^ 

"  Our  l)usines8  is  so  large  that  we  can't  do  it  in  that  way.  There 
is  a  place  for  everything,  and  everything  in  its  rilace.  The  partners' 
tablr,,  are  cleared  every  evening  of  everything  not  directly  in  hand. 
Tlie  reason  1  am  bothered  about  it  is  that  1  am  the  one  wlio  is  to 
blame  if  theie  has  been  any  oversight,  for  I  attend  to  that  duty  " 

"  Ah!  Mr.  Grayson,  Mr.  Grayson,  you're  getting  old.  You  have 
overlooked  them,"  said  3Ir.  Garbett,  with  a  facetious  leer  at  the 
clerk. 

"  No,"  said  old  Grayson,  who  was  obstinate  in  his  conceit  of  bis 
own  mipeccability,  "it  is  not  possible.  Mr.  Charles  must  have 
locked  them  up  in  his  desk  by  mistake,  and  turned  them  out  this 
morning." 

The  detective  was  perfectly  satisfied  to  learn  this  much,  and  he 
did  not  push  inquiry  on  thiK  polni  any  fu.ilier.  Mr.  Barton  had 
brought  a  big  bag,  full  of  papers,  wliicli,  in  Mr.  Grayson's  opinion, 


^'' 


1:8 


A    WEKK    OF    PASdlON". 


it  was  impoRsible  lo  Unve  n.islJ.I  In  any  case,  and  Mr    Gn.ysoiJ 

vouT.la.a  foV  the  tact  that  they  could  "«V\';:'",{u.r;SX  To  iJc  d  e 
pavtDcr8*  rooms  in  lUe  nmuuer  suggested  in  their  letlu  lo  the  ciutt 

''"AUhiTpSt  one  ot  the  junior  clerics  put  his  head  in  at  Iho  door. 

and  said,  ,    ,  .    ,, 

"  Mv  rjriivHnn  the  senior  s  come  111.  .  . » 

The  old Vlrk  st.uied  .md,  bc-ging  the  detcclivc  lo  wait,  went  to 
anu  umcp  I  in  o  Mr  .foseph  Pollard.  Evidently  the  solictor  did 
non'  "aniline  visit  with  gratiflcation.  for  he  turned  paler  than  he 
Sshy  nature,  ami  before  he  had  collected  hin.selt  the  words  had 
esciined  liim  in  a  sharp  and  querulous  voice 

*''"what  does  he  w.uit?  Wc  have  written  them  f "'  V ;      'VL  ^'^■^^■ 
vWinv  himself   he  said,  "  well,  show  him  in,  Mr.  Graj!5on. 

Tl,e    ctec^^^^^^  "'■inu'  on  the  lookout,  surprised  an 

nDS  misXce  at  htm  from  behind  Mr.  Pollard's  pmn-nrz,  but  the 
^olKitor  PI    on  a,  easv  nu.nner.  and  invited  him   to    ake  a  seat 
fl  s  Air  Garbelt    lid!  after  deliberately  tnkini,'  '.ut  of  Ins  breast- 
Icket  a  hirtoc  et.',ook.iinwin(linffayai.l  or  two  of  ^vhat  looked 
Flkeofackshoestrinu'.and  es.racling  a  letter,  which  he  handed  in 

"1"reak?nlI'it'ot'n  with  a  nervous  hand.  Mr.  Pollnr.t  ran  his  eyes 
laiilV  over  the  two  pases,  and  Mr.  Garbett  saw  that  he  changed 
Jn\    ■      His  lace  flushed  hot.  and  became  very  pale  again,     He  ap- 
predated  n  a  moment  the  fme.4ronic  flavor  ot  Mr.  bontasj  s  epistle.   . 
Snd  his  queasy  conscience  felt  a  sickening  sense  ot  P"'  :  ^o' * 
?ndep"'«'^»l  action  ot  the  earl  was  so  sharp  a  slap  '"  ll'^   »??• 
«o  clearly  inconsistent  with  the  line  assumed  by  Lim-Joseph  PoUa... 
!^iS8leturr  to  the  chief  commissioner,  and,  moreover,  the  demand 
I^see  the  pajers  alleged  to  have  been  lost  was  so  odd  and  so  susp  - 
ot^^s  that  ho  could  hardly  sit  quiet  in  his  chair,  and  had  the  gieat- 
SrdiSuy  in  the  world  in  p.eserving  a  semblance  0    composure 
Ami  theio  was  the  uncomfortable  figure  of  Mr.  Garbett  Perehed  on 
the  edceot  the  seat,  his  head  on  one  side  in  his  lavonte  altitude 
«mlldf huge  glassy  eyeballs  staring  at  him.     To  keep  himself    n 
counenance  he  reread  the  letter,  this  time  very  slowly.    Then  he 
Sed  over  his  "lasses  at  Mr.  Garbett.  who.  meantime,  bad  been 
ia^fstvin-  himseff  by  a  glance  lound  the  room  that  Mr.  Grayson 
h^d  to  Id  him  the  truth,  and  that  the  "  vast  quantity  of  law-pape  s 
Slleired  to  b^ljMngiu  the  roomot  the  senior  partner  was  apocryphal 
A  S  number  ot  briefs  on  a  table  in  U.e  center  ot  the  room  were 
mnnledn  the  most  perfect  order,  and  a  glance  showed  that  1   was 
hardly  possible  to  mislay  any  considerable  bulk  of  papers  amid  that 

*="^^^i^'^S-r'iu5iircd  Mr.  Pollard.         .     ^^     '  ^  ,. 

-     .'  l";^ed  fn  the  letler.  siiLoarbelt  of  the  Detective  Department.' 
'  ■  You  are  aware  ot  the  contents  of  this  let  er  t 
"  Mr  ^onta"'  read  it  to  me  before  placing  il  in  my  hands. 
The  solfct  wa^  eylncr  the  detective  very  closely,  and  the  latter, 
accustomed  to  reading  all  the  lillle  signs  of.  nervousness  and  anx- 
fpu"  iHhe  faces  ot  men  who  were  fencing  with  hiin,  saw  very 
oTear  v  that  beneath  the  practiced  calm  of  Mr.  Joseph  To\UvdH 
Ser,  there  was  a  profound  emotion  and  disquiet.    xMr.  Garbett 


iml  Mr.  GiDVSOu 
ovcilooUcil  in  Uiu 
letUir  10  Ihu  chief 

:ad  in  at  Iho  door, 


e  to  wnit,  went  to 
•  ili(!  solicitor  diet 
•ned  pnlcr  than  he 
elt  tlie  words  had 

ully:"  but,  te-ad- 

Grayson." 

kniit,  surprised  nu 

I  jiinci'-iuz,  but  the 
111  to  I  alio  a  seat. 
r)ut  of  liis  brenst- 
;wo  of  what  looUed 
licli  lie  handed  in 

)llnrd  nm  his  eyes 
V  that  he  changed 
ale  a!,Min.     He  ap- 
Lr.  Sonlas^'s  epistle, 
3e  of  peril ;  for  * 
ap  in  the  face, 
im— Joseph  Polla... 
ireover,  tlie  demand 
>  odd  and  so  suspi- 
and  had  the  gieat- 
liuce  of  composure, 
jarbett  perclied  on 
is  favorite  altitude, 
ro  keep  himself  in 
r  slowly.     Then  he 
neautime,  bad  been 

II  that  Mr.  Grayson 
ility  of  law-papers  " 
iier  was  apocryphal, 
r  ot  the  room  were 
;  showed  that  il  was 
of  papers  amid  that 


ective  Department. " 

n  my  hands." 
)sely,  and  the  latter, 
^rvousness  and  anx- 
with  him,  saw  very 
ir.  Joseph  Tollards 
s^uiet.    3*lr.  Garbett 


A    wrs.K    OF    PASSIOX. 


no 


iho!:.s;ft;,ir[g?^£,«;.'"«-  -""  ^'-'^  «i««sy  s.„ro,  from 

Urn!'  said  Mr.  Pollard,  clearing  his  throat,  anected  bv  ,i  s.wi 

a  d Umal  failure,  and  continuing  to  watch  Mr.  Gaibett  with  a  sur 
picious  .ide  glance,  which  thi  other  fully  appreciate  "  You 
5rBarlr-.i!'Se!''  "  '"'''''''"'  --y  ■•"P>'''y  wffil'regarj^to 
ir,J^^  feteotive  though  flie  solicitor  paused  here,  evidently  oxnect. 

^if  P^';""\"[''•  ^"""^i"'^^''  8i'<^nt.  niotionloss,  alwiiyss  "  a-    ' 

Mr.  Pollard  bt;gan  to  feel  irritated  by  this  imperturbable  altitude 
-precLsely  the  effect  Mr.  Garbett  wisheM  to  pr..duce  as  exptr  .ueo 
bad  shown  i,i,„  that  an  angry  man  was  likely  to  n^^kesomJ  move 
men  which  would  disclose  llie  weakness  of  his  gan.e 
T^„  J  Remarked,  '  said  Mr.  Pollard,  raisinK  liis  voice,  "  that  vour 
Depar  m.nt  w-em  to  have  arrived  at  a  conclnsionabout  Mr  Barton's 

£v\  you  gotTthisr '^  '"'  ""P™'"'"*  ""^  ^"«'^'-     ^^'^""l--' 

tn,^.^/*'?'*'  """^epien^of  "11  the  lower  part  ot  Mr.  Gorbetfs  face 
fndica  ed  a  sort  ot  derisive  pity  for  Mr.  Pollard,  if  he  rrallv  s,m 

iTsimSi;  sa!r"''  "■"'  ^-"'"^  '°  *"^"^""  '"^"  "  '1"'^^'°"  "^  ^ 
r^l'^ra^'*"  is  no'doiibt  about  it,  sir,  from  information  which  we  have 
recmved.    Tou  see  your  own  client  lias  no  doubt  about  it." 
lor  badir'        *^     ""'  '■■'""  '^^  sl^oul'ler,  and  damaged  the  solici- 
"  •'^".f  see,'"  replied  Mr.  Pollard,  quickly.  "  but  what  is  the  nnt 
Air  a  " ,'"  r"",''!"":"    "'«  voice  and  mnner  were  a  little  eaS 

;;  For  the  present   Mr.  Pollard,  ot  course,  that  is  a  secret." 
you  .r  inltnicUin'sr ''"'^"'  "'"  ""  interested-who  have  given 
wilhdmwT"""'  ^*'-  ^°"''''''*  ^  "°'l'-'^«'°°'l  yo""-  Instructions  were 

"  Well-of  course— in  a  sense— that  is  so.  Actina  to  the  best  of 
our  judgment-on  behalf  of  our  client- we  wrote  you  that  leier 
this  mornmg.  It  appears  that-probably  having  received  .omen 
expected  informat  on-our  client  has  p/rsonali;  given  d1rectio'„sin 
he  sense  convoyed  by  this  letter;  but  of  course  we  are  sUll  uiin^ 
as  Ins  solicitors,  and  we  ought  to  be  informed  ot  all  tha  L  -o  "S 
on  because  we  may  be  able  to  help  you  nialerialiy  in  due  a'iu  f 
this-suieide,  1  suppose  it  was.  it  indeed  it  si.ould  turn  out  tobf 

"  It  is  not  a  suicide,  Mr.  Pollard,"  said  Garbett,  his  hujre  eyeballs 
seeming  to  glow  like  the  lamps  ol  a  railway  engine,     •'ft  l-asT 

Ci  ,n  r  'l"''^"""-''  '""'^•''■'  ''''■"  I^  was'impossible  for  Mr  Pol- 
ard  to  repress  a  shiver  at  the  word.  "  May  I  ask,  sir,  whether  vou 
have  seen  your  noble  client  this  morning?"  -    " 

nf 'Jhlli"-^;  '?.■■•  ?''''''^'t."  said  the  solicitor,  putting  on  a  severe  air 
of  rebuke  to  the  impudence  ot  the  detective, ''  I  fear  you  force    str 
spn^^^^h  '"';  '^'"^''^^^'"S!    1  rton't  suppose  the  chief^con  n  i^!  one; 
sent  you  here  to  crr-ss- examine  us  about  our  private  business     You 


■'W'' 


180 


A    AVEEK    OF    PASSION. 


/ 


-will  excuse  mr  from  nnsweriiii;  such  n  (HiPsUon.  anil  we  will  keep, 
if  you  i)lciisc,  strict  I V  10  the  mutter  in  Imiul."        ^    ,    ..    ,     ...    ^ 
"Tlie  i.mtler  in  Imnil.  Mr.  I'oDiird."  sal.l  Mr.  Gntl...tt,  irclinlnit 
his  l.eH.1  II  little  more  on  one  Bide,  "  is  the  discovery  of  tlit  nmrdererB 
ot  Mr  <Jcor'--e  Ilnrton.  for  wlii(;h  C'Mh)  lewnrd  Ims  l)ccn  olTuren  \>\ 
your  client,  tl.e  Hiul  of  Sell.y.  ot  wl.ioli  1  imi  deterinir.'d   if  1  can 
to  uel  u  sniire.     Anv  <iue8lion  wld.li  lends  to  throw  li^dit  on  that 
crime  is  relevant,  and.  as  you  (^laini  to  lie  actinj;  with  us  in  this 
matter   we  assume  thai  V<mi  will  ^wt'  us  every  tacility  for  obtaining 
lull  intounution.    Mv  ouev.tion,  wlilch  you  talic  as  an  impertinence, 
was  ineiuu  as  nothini;  of  the  l?ind.     It  arose  out  ol  your  mvn  state- 
ment     You  said  that,  in  withdrawing  your  charire  against  Mr.  IJiu  - 
ton  and  inforinin};  i-s  ihat  you  took  no  tiirtlier  fiart  in  the  inve?tiga 
tloil  as  to  this  Jientiemiin's  fatc-witli  whom,  by  the  bye.  we  are 
well  aware  that  you  iiavc  lately  been  conducting  some  ^7'  '"'P"'h 
tant  ne^'Otiations  "-Mr.  Pollard's  eyebrow   winced  fliK".ly.  «  ^ 
tue  movement  was  duly  noteil-"  you  were  acting  on  behalf  of  and 
by  instructions  from  tlio  Earl  of  Sell.y .     Well,  sir  after  your  letter 
arrived,  the  Karl  of  Solby  came  to  Scotland  >aid,  and  gave  direc- 
tions exactly  the  reverse  oi  those  contained  in  your  letter,  and  I 
simply  ask  you  whether  your  client  had  seen  you,  in  order  to  give 
vou  an  opportunity  of  explaining."  i^  u„>i 

^  'Nvhich  1  must  neremptorily  decline  to  do!'"  said  Mr.  Pol  lard, 
shortly  and  hotly.  "  \  on  appear,  sir,  to  bo  exceeding  your  Instruc- 
tions. »nd  we  shall  complain  to  the  chief  commissioner  about  your 

""""asVou  please.  Mr.  PoUaid,"  said  BIr.  Garbett,  with  provoking 
coolness.  "  but,  In  the  meantime,  my  specific  instructions  are  to 
wait  for  a  list  ot  those  documents,  and  not  to  return  to  Scotland 

^"There^again."  salil  Mr.  Pollard,  getting  more  and  more  Irritat- 
ed "  1  am  unable  to  oblige  you.  The  documents  are  piiviite  docu- 
ments belonging  to  our  client;  they  have  nothing  to  do  with  your 
Srles.  anil,  now  that  they  are  found,  there  Is  no  longer  any 
necessity  for  troubllag  any  one  about  them. 

^' That  is  not  the  opinion  ot  my  chief,  Mt.  Pollard.    Y  ou  see  you 

offered,  In  your  adveitisement,  to  show  a  list  of  those  cocuments 

and  we  ought  to  have  asked  for  It  before.    Now  that  we  know  that 

Mr  Bailou  has  been  muidered.  and  that  those  documents  relate  to 

the  business  which  was  occupying  him  in  London  and  which  he 

was  engaged  in  with  gentlemen  who  one  day  accuse  hira  of  running 

away  with  them,  and  the  next  day  find  them  on  their  oBlce-table, 

you  must  see,  Mr.  Pollard,  that  we  have  some  ground  for  inquiring 

that  was  the  nature  of  the  papers."  H»«,„n,i 

"  1  see  nothij:g  of  the  kind!"  said  Mr.  Pollard.     "The  demand 

seems  to  me  to  be  quite  Irregular.    In  any  case  I  should  not  accede 

to  it  without  referring  to  our  client  and  consul  mg  my  partner  who 

8  absent-  and  I  muit  furlhci  tell  you,  sir,  that  your  manner  ot 

speakingto  me  is  distinctly  Impertinent,  and  I  decline  to  have  any 

more  to  say  to  you!"  ,   ,,      ^    . 

Mr.  Garbett  rose,  calm,  always  imperturbably  Btatmg. 

"  "^ou  refuse  to  allow  me  to  see  those  papers,  Mr.  Pollard? 

"Most  decidedly." 


»ncl  we  will  keep, 

Gutbctt,  ipclinlnir 
y  of  tilt  nmrderm 
ii9  been  olTuri-ti  liy 
urmiri'd,  if  1  can, 
rosv  lij^ht  on  that 
j;  with  us  in  this 
['•ility  for  obtnininj? 
[S  iin  inipt'iaintuce, 
ol  your  own  state- 
re  against  Mr.  Bar- 
xrl  in  the  inve?llga 
y  the  l)yc,  wo  are 
some  very  impor- 
nccd  sliKiitly,  and 
ig  on  behalf  of  and 
ir,  alter  your  letter 
d,  and  gave  dircc- 
yotir  letter,  and  I 
)u,  in  order  to  give 

'  said  Mr.  Pollard, 
leding  your  instruc- 
Issioner  about  your 

ett,  with  provoking 
instructions  are  to 
leturu  to  Scotland 

re  and  more  irritat- 
ts  are  private  docu- 
ig  to  do  with  your 
e  is  uo  longer  any 

Hard.  You  see  you 
jf  those  documents, 
r  that  we  know  that 
documents  relate  to 
jdon,  and  which  he 
Buse  him  ot  running 
on  their  offlce-table, 
ground  for  inquiring 

ird.  "  The  demand 
1 1  should  not  accede 
ing  my  partner,  who 
ial  your  manner  ot 
decline  to  have  any 

y  stating. 

.  Mr.  Pollard?" 


A    WEEK    OF     PASSIOK. 


181 


"  You  will  not  furnish  the  Department  with  a  list  and  description 
of  theniV" 

"  As  present  advised,  certainly  not." 

"  \oii  must  not  be  suiprised,  then,  bIi,  if  my  chiefs,  knowim: 
what  tliey  do,  draw  unfavoraVile  coiiclustons  as  to  your  conduct.  1 
have  only  done  my  ddtv.     (Jrlo(^morning,  sir." 

"  They  may  dniw  any  conclusions  tliey  like,"  said  J\lr.  Pollard, 
furious.  "  We  don't  require  to  be  Instructed  by  the  police  either 
lis  lo  the  l<jw  or  our  duly. " 

As  luck  would  have  i't,  jusi  as  Mr.  Gnrbcil  turned  to  the  door  bv 
which  he  hud  entcrcil,  and  Mr.  .)o8pi)Ii  I'ollaid,  who  had  risen  to 
deliver  the  lust  shot  with  cDnsiderahle  heat,  had  turned  to  hi.s  desk 
again,  another  door  opened  at  the  side  ol  tlie  room,  and  Mr.  Churlei 
Pollard  entered,  saying, 
"  It's  nil  rii^ht.    'l  have  them!" 

Ilo  cariieil  a  bau'  in  liis  hand.  His  uncle  put  up  his  finger  to  hia 
lips,  and  Mr.  Garl)ett,  wlio.se  back  was  to  the  .sp.jaker,  .wlieelod 
round  InMnntly  and  tared  him.  He  had  seen  Mr.  Chailes  on  two 
previous  inslaiuis  nt  Scotland  Viird.  The  junior  partner  started 
when  he  m\v  him,  but  nodded,  and  said, 

"  Goodmomin!;,  Mr.  Gnrliett."  while  he  looked  at  his  uncle  aa  if 
to  impiiie  {]:■'  niotive  of  the  detectives  visit. 

Mr.  .Joseph  Pollard  was  on  thorns;  tor  he  had  an  instinctive  feel- 
ing that  the  detective  was  suspicious,  and  if  he  remained  it  was  just 
possible,  since  Mr.  Charles  Pollard  knew  nothing  of  the  change  in 
the  state  ot  aflairs  wliich  had  taken  place  during  his  al)sence,  that 
somethins  might  be  dropped  of  a  compromising  character.  So  lie 
said,  quickly  taking  up  I  he  cliief  commissioner's  letter  and  tiirust- 
Ing  it  under  his  nephew's  eyes,  while  he  gave  him  a  meaning  look, 
"  Mr.  Garbett's  business  is  concluded.  1  have  given  him  our  an- 
swer. Good-morntng,  sir,"  he  said  again,  siguiflcantly,  to  the  de- 
tective. 
Rut  Garbott  did  not  stir. 

"  1  am glail  to  liaveseen  you,  sir,"  he  said,  addressing  Mr.  Charles 
PoUaril,  "  because  all  our  communications  in  regard  totlds  business 
luive  been  witli  you.  I  should  just  like  lo  be  assured,  before  1  re- 
turn to  make  my  report  to  the  chief  commissioner,  whether  you  are 
of  the  same  mind  aa  your  partner  in  refusing  the  information  we 
ask  for?" 

AVhIle  Gatbett  was  speaking,  Mr.  Chorles  Pollard's  eye  waa  run- 
ning over  the  startling  letter  from  Mr.  Sontag.     He  glanced  up  at" 
his  senior  inquiringly.    Tim  latter  was  flushed,  and  obviously  ill  at 
ease.     He  turned  again  to  Mr.  Garbett: 

"  You  liave  your  answer,  Mr.  Garbett;  we  will  write  the  chief 
commissioner  a  letter  in  reply  to  this." 

Mr.  Charles  nodded.  He  comprehended  his  uncle's  anxiety,  and 
Lis  own  could  hardly  be  concealed. 
"  Ves— Mi.  Garbett— my  partnor's  answer  is  mine."  "  " 
The  detective  said  no  more,  and  retired.  His  eyes  wandered 
curiously  over  the  bag  which  Mr.  Charles  Pollard  had  brought  in 
his  hand,  and  the  contents  of  wliich  he  had  de8ignate<l  in  the  plural 
as  "them."  An  idea  went  through  the  detective's  brain.  On  his 
way  out  he  nodded  to  his  friend  the  commissionnaire,  and  having  got 


183 


A    UKEK    Ol-     I'ASSION. 


as  fur  RB  Ihe  stcpi,  lumed  bucU  Into  the  Imll.  opcnf.l  tho  door  of  the 
irluss  box,  aiul  j)reinistluj:-- 

"  nv  tl  e  vvnv.  I  lorKol  to  .ink  tlu-n.  u,.Hhiir«-lhurc  is  bo  -nuch   o 

""l>;^l.«' wJ^"rGml..tt  luul  kit  .lie  room   tho  two  '"i-^f '^  ";;;" 
jo,a  i    -h  other  ..t;>s,.rtlea  ^es  uj.    ^;^|^i -^{ J  .^^J-V 

Se'^whS  £.     U^^i^htS-llllU  in  Toe'B  story.  w.«  closing 

ofinrl  raril  in  tlieir  handT  .     ,  ., 

old  man's  tone,  but  by  bis  manner,  he  seemed  so  desperate  and  ex 
cited      "  "Vou  m:gbt  be  overbenrd. 


o 


o 


'^/:^ 


nf(i  tUo  door  of  the 

■Ihurc  is  go  -niicli  lo 
igiiriliiij;  lliu  move- 
two  liiiatTubli'  iiifu 
({giiril  fiict'i*.  They 
roiimk'il  l).v  iiu  ii'>i> 
»  story,  wiis  closing 
tliuni. 

(liitictl  nl  ll'fi  <'l('vi'r- 
inissini;  iloriiniinis. 
1(1.  ill  luldition,  i;i\m 
11  it  WHS  a  in  nil  IT  of 
1  out  of  llicir  ImiiilH, 
occcdinirs  vcrv  torn- 
•lesl'oHatdcinK'lvlei-l 
itorv  of  liii*  own  iIh- 
ild  "Ik'  sun-  to  ailvlsi) 
lilt  Mr.  CMiiiil<!»  Pol- 
Ills   liriiin  as  soon  as 
hontau's.      l  lie  i-arl 
in(lillt;i'i!nce;  almost 
iiiin  would  1)0  peril- 
witli  the  clearness  of 
gensiliililv.  By  some 
J  hict  that  llie  victim 
,  were  one;  and  there 
prose  whicli  iliey  did 
0  write  in  such  terms 
{initicant.  The  clever 
was  there  any  other 

his  nose,  had  thrown 
his  trousers  pockets, 
Ids  chin  on  his  breast, 
dared  to  lonk  at  him, 
nozing  out  at  the  ends 
ilence,  and  they  could 
ts. 
ust  above  a  whisper— 

Pollard,  in  a  strnnRe, 
t  evidence  nsainst  you 
eorge  Barton!" 
rmed  not  only  by  the 
d  so  desperate  and  ex- 

er,  fiercely,  though  he 
in  a  few  hours  we  may 
it  would  be  so!" 
ply,  "  will  you  at  least 


A     WKEK    OF    PASSION. 


ISJ 


'llo'i'"  l''»'""'  "''"'  ''"*'^  ^'""''  "°^'  *'""'^'*'  "°  ^  '"'■"  ""  opiiiiou 

„,,'i '.'n^'""'"  .""''""]. '1"-'  """''■• '"■'""■"y'   "1""  '•'"  you.  Charlos. 
nnil  rnurli  irooi!  may  it  doyoii!" 

11"  related  (he  Intetview'witii  all  Ills  prartlcod  cxacllliule  Not  a 
won!  •-'•a|";d:  for  wuh  not  every  Hyllat.le  that  li«< I  been  uttered 
•  •uriied  Into  his  brain? 

Ii  rertiiinlv  did  not  appear  to  do  much  cood  lo  Charles  Pollard 
lor  lii«  face  liccame  longer  and  paler  as  Ids  uncle  proceeded 

•We  niiist  send  on  the  list  ininiediately,"  said  the  nephew,  when 
Jiis  imele  Mild  (Inished.  i         .  • 

Tlie  elder  sliriiir^'ed  Ids  shoulders.     Ho  seemed  (lulte  paralyzed 
and  tndiifeient.  i        .;      • 

i;  Do  anything  you  like.'  he  said.     "  It  docs  not  miieh  matter  " 
At    least,     said   (  liaries   Pollard,  la  a  low  voice,  as  he  oidellv 
locked  the  door  leadniL'  to  the  clerks'  room— ■'  nt  least  it  will  uive  us 
time  if  wc  decide  uiinn  bolting." 

JIo  hoped  to  prick  up  the  old  man's  cneiRics  by  this  hint.     And 
lie  succeeded. 

"  It  is  our  only  hope.  "  said  .loseph  Pollard,  raisinK  his  head  and 
speakini,'  more  tlrinlv      -  is  the  yacht  rcadyV" 

"  Quite.     1  told  YtacH  to  ordci   the  fires  to  be  kept  up,  and  have 
the  caplam  and  f>rew  all  ready  on  board.    "^V"  simli  dear  for  Ilavie 
but  we  tvill  cut  Hiiaij-lit  across  for  Montevideo.     It  Is  lucky  1  seat 
that  money  to  !''uijh.     And  1  have  about  rlvo  ihouaand  ou  Iward  la 
asateiMace. " 

"  We  ought  K)  leave  tonight- to-nii^ht,  Olmrlje.  Mark  my  words 
\ve  have  not  a  moment  to  f^pare.  Vou  Klu.iiid  have  Fm-u  how  that 
fellow  looked  at  me.  Did  yon  ever  watch  au  engine  with  two  liirlits 
coming  up  on  th.  undeigroiii.d  railway'?  Vou  fancy  for  a  Ioul'  tiiiie 
the.y  MTb  "tationaiy.  and  by  iis  I  by  you  become  conscious  they  are 
coming— coi.iii)--coininj;-nearer,  I  have  often  thought  wliat  a 
liornble  fascination  they  must  have  for  a  suicide  who  is  waiting  tor 
them.  A\ell,  1  tbou,t;ht  of  that  whil.'  lUat  wretch  was  lookluc  at 
me-lhere-8ltting-8taring  like  a  liasilisk.  By  G-,  Charlie,  1  can't 
stand  It  any  longer;  we'll  be  olT— tonight,  Charlie— toni.dit'" 

Joseph  Pollard's  own  eyes  se(!med  lo  be  starting  fronriiis  head 
and  the  sweat  was  reeking  on  his  brow. 

*  #  ♦  »  *  *  # 

Garbctt,  lounging  along  the  pavement  outside,  spoke  to  a  seedy- 
loojung  person  who  was  banging  al)out  by  the  railings  opposite  No 
]oi>,  and  to  a  tall,  gentlemanly-looking  liian  who  appeared  lo  be 
similarly  unoccupied,  llavintr  satisfied  himself  that  the  bouse  was 
being  watched  as  well  from  llic  back,  where  a  room,  lookiuc  into 
the  yard  of  No.  153,  had  that  morning  been  hired  by  a  supposed 
agent  and  his  clerk,  he  stationed  himselt  at  the  r.itlle  Turnstile 
leading  from  the  Fields  into  nolborn,  to  Avait  lor  31r.  Grayson' 
whom  he  had  invited  lo  lunch.  While  he  ^us  curiously  examining 
some  specimens  of  engraving  in  the  window  of  a  "  lleiahlic  olllce  '' 
at  the  corner,  but  at  the  same  time  keeping  his  eyes  about  him  a 
rerson  came  through  the  narrow  passage  tromilolboru  who  attract- 
ed his  attention.  This  was  a  tall,  fashionably-dressed  man,  faultless 


184 


A     WKKK    OF    TARSK'N. 


V*' 


nv,.r       ■  ••  liusu't  k'<>i>«  across  ou  tlic  bly  alreuiiy.     ny  .Ji'vi..  '    ^'" 
nvLT.    ,  ''""="'*?,     T,     [    tijc  very  uiiiu  to  liavo  iirrnii-ei!  Mcli  a 

Juc  Be""™""".  ''"H  .; '!    j  f "'    „  "vote  ^ilbniil  liirTiIni!  rouml. 
"h,!,';  aSu  ban  able  to  pulo»  tbe  nal  ol  FonunWU!  «»J  Ml.w 


o 


G 


M!  iiir  iintl  BwaiiKcr  ikt 
:)niliett.  H  jiiL-kilaw  ia 
ii'iii'd  rouMi  hiiiUluiily 
^,i<l  l>y  'li">  i  "'"'  ''•*• 
livi',  iiiii'iiHy  j;luiU'L'8, 
iiiiil  II  lioiiiji  willi  a 
I  In  tliis  iiiim'jH  clieek 
It;  dulcet ivc,  iiinl  t'llcU 
ri'iomiiliim  wliKli  10- 
ilhulf.  Aslhc  poilc  ■• 
iiL'il  llxnl  till  lii'<  tai'iv 
iiii>l  llu;ii,  us  it  liu  ImU 
nil  iil(iii«  llic  wull  or 
K-lmlnuce, 

I.  liiH  tii'O  wciiriiiK  for 
i.likiilv  u  light  tliwlu'd 
\u.hiiot  liis  Uujju  jn>v. 
10  Mlow  we  go  iiL'arly 
i(lllii;>kliot.iCliilitii80 
I1;h  tho  s!fccl»<if  Lon- 
liniuiilcuipniiilily  tlmt 
l.'j;8  to  ttiki  lilm  ii>;l«t 
ily.     Hy  Jovol  1  never 
»  liuvo  iirriini;eil  -^vch  a 
e  the  iileti  sIiduUI  icu^e 
,  1  woutlerV    Untortu- 
I'lr;  up.  Ilii!  piecisuly, 
rlioti  to  lilinselt,  \vhl'(. 
,r  the  lieialilifi  fusinns 
uucooletl  tor  succesBtul 

vcment,  swingini,'  hl3 
ola'a  Inn,  an  J.  tumintt 
I  to  see  whether  ho  was 
,  felt  piuB  anil  necales 
(How  tho  captain,  but  a 
le  iinile  futile.  He  was 
ntcrview  with  GraysoQ 

tlshing  expeUilion. 
1  find  your  address,  my 

to  wutch  you  to-night, 
without  turuinji  round, 
rurnslile  tolzanl's,  and 
his  eye  on  me  still,"  he 

[  Fortunatus  and  follow 
liis  own  rernarlcuble  in- 
coln's  Inn,  and  turning 
int  up  Serle  Street  to  see 
e  horizon.  Sir.  Gnrbett 
>  Street,  the  captain  held 
one  ot  its  dingy  houses, 
,er  the  tiles,  ou  the  outer 


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A    WEEK    OF    PASSTOX. 


ii5 


floor  of  which  wiis  painted  the  indeterminate  name  of  "  Mr.  Bmith." 
Thence  a  tew  minutes  atterwiird  a  boy,  ot  a  sliarp  and  hungry 
countenance,  l)ore  a  letter,  in  a  crested  envelope,  addressed  by  a  l)olrt 
but  shaky  hand  to  Mr.  Charles  Pollard,  andmarlted,  "  Pressing  and 
Confidential." 


■  CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  NOON  OF  I.OVE  HAS  STRTTCK. 

]Mn8.  Bahton  was  a  superior  specimen  ot  that  vast  class  of  su- 
perior women  who  are  tiircpd  out  of  tlie  much  abused  vicarages, 
rectories,  and  deaneries  of  Endand.  Tlie  increase  of  tlie  species  is 
not  the  least  useful  of  the  good  works  performed  by  tlie  clergy,  as 
It  is  certainly  by  far  the  most,  successful.  Were  every  clergyman 
called  upon  to  produce  for  every  child  born  In  his  house  an  individ- 
ual bora  again,  in  the  evansrelical  sense,  under  his  preaching,  not  a 
few  might  find  it  difficult  to  match  the  colossal  tale  of  the  one  by  an 
adequate  number  of  specimens  of  the  other.  But  still  he  may  hold 
up  his  head  as  one  who  lias  done  much  tor  the  world,  tor  out  of 
these  clerical  homes  there  come  forth  troops  of  young  men  and 
women,  cultured,  well-bred,  intel'igenl,  laborious,  accustomed  to 
elegance  of  idea  and  economy  of  practice;  in  fact,  when  taken  all 
together,  constituting  an  immense  and  incalculably  beneficent  force 
in  the  midst  of  our  social  lite. 

At  almost  every  step  in  society  one  runs  against  men  or  fromen, 
many  of  them  eminent,  most  ot  (hem  dilisrenl  and  thoughtful 
workers,  in  everj'  department  wliere  thoughtful  work  and  earnest 
humanity  can  find  a  field  of  action,  who  are  children  of  the  clergy. 
The  success  of  clergymen's  sons  at  tlie  universities,  in  all  Ihe  piotes- 
Bions,  in  the  public  services,  is  patent  and  distimruished;  and  yet  1 
doubt  whether  a  greater,  wider,  and  more  benignant  influence  does 
not  emanate  f  roni  tlie  clergy  homes  ot  England,  in  Ihe  shape  ot  the 
daughters  who  are  trained  in  those  wonderful  schools  of  refinement 
and  domestic  economy.  1  think,  if  my  reverend  friends  would  not 
be  shocked,  anil  would  not  cull  that  irreverent  and  profane  in  which 
there  would  be  uot  the  least  irreverence  or  profanity.  1  could  elabo- 
rate a  much  more  unanswerable  political  and  practical  argument  in 
favor  of  an  establisiied  clergy,  on  the  ground  of  Ihe  importance  to 
the  State  ot  promoting  the  natural  increase  ot  a  stock  which  is, 
morally  and  intellecluafly,  of  a  high  order,  than  Mr.  Gladstone,  for 
all  his  superb  command  of  dialeciic,  ever  compounded  in  defense 
of  an  established  church. 

Mrs.  Barton  was  not  only  in  herself  a  lady  of  exceptional  intelli- 
gence and  strength  of  character,  but  she  had  had  the  supreme  advant- 
age of  having  always  lived  in  the  society  of  distinguished  people. 
Her  father  was  the  Dean  of  Dodchester;  he  had  been  head-master 
of  Eton.  Such  a  statement  is  enough  in  itself  to  signalize  a  world 
of  eminent  social  and  intellectual  connections.  Moreover,  the  dean 
owed  his  advancement,  in  no  small  degree,  to  the  fact  that  he  had 
been  Lord  Selby's  tutor  at  Oxford,  and,  in  marrying  his  daughter, 
Mr.  'Bartoii  had  no  doubt  laid  the  foundation  stone  for  the  position 
he  afterward  held  in  the  earl's  domestic  polity.    Mrs.  Barton,  there- 


18C 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


■^ 


fore,  was  at  1-- J"  -^  ^^f  ^Jel"  ^liSl^SU^'t^St 
fsiing  tigure,  for  bhe  ^an  I  vU>.  ^'" '',[•  '"^^.j,,!  t^ct  was  pcrtect- 
iiulfoa  a  liltle  pt  a  V  "«-'*S,"°';'*^l'^^^^^^  is  necessarily 

in  sayin.i?  which,  quile  '^.'^  °  y^"  i^V™,^^^^^^^^^^^^  she  was  nat- 

implicl.     Moreover  as  1  <»  ">;  |/'^\^  S   1  e  ti  wi  woen  lier  lather 

\T  V'lieif  cTi:Ue'"hKfor    til  tK  Sn^le  ot  one  6f  tl>ose 
•  tl^naJ^lli^^J^coLinatJsana^ 

Ihat  i "^  about  the  ^^i^'^:^^^ ^.^ZZ  her.  and. 

Mrs.   Barton  visited  wit    J'  f  ^ '"'  y  ^^"^  '{'„  i.ar  friend  at  the 

while  the  Countess  o    ^^'^'^y    7,f^' !  ".""t^c '0^!^  ed  her  to  be  at 

n-  inKoLr.t  an  iC^  disliuSn^^^^^^^^  -cie.y.  without  com- 

"^^^^P^^^^^^-^  left 

*^  When  the  Coun  ess  ot  ^«!^.>  f 'f/' '"''  jneviu  .lo  that  Mrs.  Barton 

without  a  mother's  «"P«Vnn^  "' •  J.^^f  „^'^S^^  mother- 

sliould  become  a  km.l  ot  l"f '  ,    "\S  '  ""   From  the  natural  charm 
less  pirl  whenever  she  «-as  at  belbjCastlc^i^^^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^ 

te  even  .mpccled  by  «  ''■ »" '™\n"'  »™  J'JXisy  ol  the  «Ue 

crepancy.  ro.roTrt  10  the  earl's  daughter,  tha' 

Now,  tt  was  here,  na'^^^V.  in  regard  W  the  ean ^    ^       .  ^^^ 

the  natural  ambition  of  ^rs.  Barton  bnttea  up  j  ^^^j_ 

rendered  air-tijjht  and  '"«vnP°?^^^/^„^liJV  ,nd  a  mos  imperceptible 


'■^iT 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSTON. 


187 


she  made  a  very  inler- 
iructccl,  some  thought 
cinl  tact  was  pertect— 
1  qunlitiiis  is  tiocessarily 
y  hiutod,  she  was  nat- 
;  time  wDcn  lier  tatlicr 
iving  helped  him  to  the 

(U'iTl  Willi  mme  solid 
1(3,  inlelluctiial,  but  iin- 
>  one's  heart  warm,"  as 
to  realize  to  perfectiou. 
t  whom  five  were  sons. 
n  and  slept,  lie  was  a 
[iiH  and  loiind,  with  all 
rtt  she  felt  it  enoimli  to 
liad,  tor  lie  dearly  loved 
;xample  ot  one  of  tlioae 
el  dovetailings  of  char- 
ek,  in  the  same  relation 

a  f^reat  Dutcli  lottery— 
iiillion  or  so. 
lilies  around  her,  and, 
i  ii  fiiiniliar  friend  at  the 
2t  enabled  her  to  be  at 
i;d  society,  without  com- 
■  her  avion  1'  itropre. 
r  only  daughter  was  left 
ivitable  tliat  Mrs.  Bartoa 

Siviardian  to  tlie  mother- 
From  tlie  natural  charm 
natter  of  course  that  tlie 
y  deep  afleciion  tor  her; 

that,  sensible  and  <:ood- 
Ihe  Countess  of  Tilbury, 
d  then  just  a  little  I  wins^e 
e.  This,  of  couise,  is  an 
author;  tor  the  Countess 
if  the  world  to  allow  it  to 
ndo.ved  with  second  sight 
icr  as  jenkmsy  ot  the  wife 
ihiHiiuee  that  lady  might 

wholly,  to  explain  that 
I  ween  the  messages  given 
ic  countess  and  by  Lady 
lis  ot  the  two  ladies  about 
3  most  to  do  with  the  dis- 

I  the  earl's  daughter,  tha' 
ittled  up  so  securely,  ar.d 
n"  capsuled  with  the  seal- 
imd  almost  imperceptible 
a  matron  sliould  not  have 
,  George's  intimacy  at  the 


castle,  in  Lady  Blanche's  intimacy  at  the  manor.  Mr.  Barton  was 
a  keen  observer,  loo;  and  it  is  just  possible  llmt  he  ma}'  have  scented 
danger  in  the  nlr,  .Tiid  that,  to  his  other  reasons  for  wishing  to  keep 
his  J^nn  down  to  a  simple  life,  was  added  the  desire  of  placing  liim 
ill  a  situation  which  would  torce  him,  were  he  in  peril  of  conceiv- 
ing a  hopeless  and  fatal  affection,  to  siippiess  it.  For  Mr.  Barton 
knew  that,  however  eminent  his  son's  tiilcnts  and  success  might  be, 
such  a  passion  would  be  an  utteily  insane  one  iu  the  eyes  of  the 
Enrl  ot  Sclby.  The  subject,  then,  was  eschewed  all  round,  lltough 
in  the  heart  of  the  anxious  mother  there  was  a  secret  mi.vfiireof 
terror  and  desire  in  regard  to  the  state  of  her  son's  feelings.  Hut, 
Kuessing  the  motives  of  her  husband's  policy,  as  her  good-sense  told 
lier  it  was  the  only  right  and  honorable  one,  she  guarded  lierself 
from  ever,  by  tlie  slightest  hint,  or  by  employing  any  of  those  re- 
fined tactics  whieli  are  so  simple  to  feminine  ingenuity,  saying  or 
doing  anything  to  encourage  the  movements  in  lier  sen's  heart  at 
which  she  had  intuitively  guessed.  Happily,  as  she  obsei  ved.  Lady 
Blanche  herself  aopearod  utterly  unconscious  of  any  sentiment  but 
regard  for  a  clever  and  pleasant  ncquaintance,  while  George  kept 
proudly  clear  of  any  mnnitestatlon  of  thesfnteof  his  feelings,  which 
•was  not  so  minute  as  to  need  the  microscopic  lenses  ot  a  mother's 
love  10  detect  it. 

51r8.  I^artonhad  not  flown  to  London  at  the  first  intimation  which 
she  received  of  her  husband's  disappearance,  because  H  had  come 
upon  her  in  so  cruel  a  fashion  as  to  prostrate  her,  liodily  and  men- 
tally, for  three  days,  and  her  physician  had  confiDcdher  to  her 
room.  On  the  Thursday  night  George  had  not  thought  it  right  to 
send  her  the  news;  but  on  Friday  tlie  first  act  of  Mr.  Charles  Pol- 
laul,  when  he  had  learned  from  the  earl  that  Mr.  Barton's  absence 
was  noticed,  had  beea  to  dispatch  a  telegram  lo  Manor  Calham  in 
these  terms: 

(Telegram.) 

Mrs.  Barton, 
to  Manor  Calham, 

by  8elby, 
Yorks. 
Please  wire  immediately  whether  Mr.  Barton  is  at  liome.    Has 
disappeared  witli  a  large  number  of  bonds  and  important  papers. 
Earl  is  veiy  anxious.     Reply  paid. 

This  cruel  and  dastardly  intimation,  which  the  solicitors  launched 
wittout  any  regard  lo  the  feelings  of  Ihe  poor  victim,  they  had  con- 
ceived and  sent  only  as  a  clever  piece  ot  tactics.  For  Mrs.  Barton 
it  wan  more  effective  than  a  thunderbolt.  It  was  many  hours  be- 
fore her  tottering  reason  recovered  its  equilibrium,  and  then,  incapa- 
ble of  nny  physical  exertion,  sue  received  from  tlie  doctor's  hands 
a  milder  and  more  hopeful  message  which  her  son  had  thoughtfully 
concocted;  in  which  he  begged  her  to  try  and  keep  up  her  faith  and 
hope,  as  he  was  taking  all  the  necessary  steps,  ana  implored  her  not 
lo  leave  the  manor,  on  the  ground,  which  George  knew  to  be  so 
specious,  that  his  father  might  be  suffering  from  overworked  brain, 
and  might  direct  his  course  to  Selby.  When  the  earl  received  the 
distracted  letters  and  telegrams  which  the  poor  lady  dictated  to  him 


roll;inl  &  Pollard, 
Solicitors,  155  Lin- 
coln's Inn  Fields. 


-  -WW 


& 


(*>■;• 
^•s. 


^gg  A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 

reply  m  icissuiins  ^^^"'VorBtiucllnK  ingenious  theories  to  api-easo 
anxious  iloctor  f """'  /"' ^^801^  Sht  liad  enougli  perHplcttc  ty 
the  anguish  ot  »\'8  P"''^" V^^; '  oTullon  left  to  urge  the  physlclao 
of  imlKment  ami  Btrongth  or  res"'""",  '  ^usinees  of  the 

SW'lo^livert  Georges  attentmn  from  tl.e   ui^^^^^^^^^^ 

JirSUWtK  S' ' ot  irS.  incapable  alilce  ot  thought  ana 

"^X^  meeting  heJ^.nU.n.oau.-^^ 

for  no  other  reason,  '^«7"^^  "'^,^"'3  would  he  beyontl  the  appn- 
bevond  the  resources  of  '""K"""'"  ",,",  =  «<.  .'cnius     Tliey  belong  to 
Sueven  of  1^.^  «"t  "/rriestToTaml'Sf.^  .tists  have  n^ 
regions  80  sacred  that^ the  granutsipo-  ^^^^^^  ^,^^^^  y 

Rtteniptcd  to  set  toot  '"  ,^^«7\?;  '\Sv  /a.  liey  have  checkw^ 
awtul  and  saciod  ««  ^mn  ty  <^^t  thote  i)./un  ^  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^  „^i^^ 
their  teet  and  retired  with  s  lent  ste  s.    "^  .    jg,^,^^^  i,,  ,„,a,i; 

foc,.s  may  have  tr  ed  '"  ^Sr  ei^^'ts  lo^'aTnt  iL  whicl;  r..anifest3 
but  the  sorry  f  util  ty  of  "»"J J,,  ,',,/!„  \  nivalerious  spiritual  lan- 
Uselt  not  alone  in  human   P«'=';^' ^";/" ''^Vm  f 'oni  heart  to 

guage  ot  emotion  a"d,l~ems  "xlo-n^"  unser^J^^  has  only  the 
heart  in  silent  «n"g«<^''^„*^ "V'^^i.'n'CifitV  so  supreme  us  .>ot  even  to 
more  conspicuously  P°'"^f'|,f°  "f ,S  ot  i<s  o^^"  wea''''"^*'-  .  , 
be  able  to  estimate  ^ '«  uiHi,rfiers"rpr'se.  and  with  a  trightfu 
But  George  noted  with  "orriueu  au»  i       .•       •       ^  ^f  i,net  had 

coSJacUou  'ot  heart  lflJ:^^X^:^^^,t:ti^Zl\.cr.     k;  was  a 
lefl  on  the  sweet  and  P''^''^'"^,^  ,  ""..buadant  and  beautiful  black 

?S:^  hSSl^S.^- ^n^S  t^have  been  extinguished  for- 

«^¥he  death  ot  his  tath..  was  a  deep^ij^^^JriS::^  «vSK 
was  a  dread  event  completed-tha.^a^^^ 

for  the  loved  one.     Here  »  o'^^^,^,'.,^  ^'^fe  and  beauty  left  to  kce,> 
ruin    (Villi  3"8t  enough  of  its  ox\.u  J'  "  -p^tual  emotions  of 

Ze.as  the  Pa^ll^e^^Vt'^SiStShoK  commingled  sor 
srief  and  iudignation.    \yheu  tut- "  fi  ="'"  "  Ba^iuu  began  to 

fow  o?  muiual  explanation  was  over  ^'J^^S  „,„  ,.,^o.,,ht 
look  an.l  look  and  'e"l'ze  ^ha Uhmiam^^  ^^^  ^^^ 

upon  Ibis  noble  woman.  "'^.^^V'^^^  „low  witb  a  fearful  intensity. 
his  soul  began  to  ff>?;:«°i^toTn,u'  portable  became  his  lee  ings 
He  lost  all  control  ot  Inmself .  »«  '"'"^  P,i  rushing  to  his  chambers, 

that  he  broke  away  ^'"^.i*'i„^r  a,"l'«  ^^  ^"'^  contortions  of  rage 
threw  himself  madly  on  the  floor  anu«  j^_  ^^^^  ^^  j^.j 

with  oaths  and  execrations,  loud,  atei^ a  ^^^  ^^^^^^^  ,^^^ 

never  entered  into  his  thoughts  «'  ?°J'^^^^.  °  '  ^sious  of  his  soul 
leiteraled  his  vows  ot  vengeance.    The  pent  up  P  ^^^^  j,,^ 

Snd  vent  in  jren.^^^^^^^^^^^^  ,elt-respect  had 

KSa  KS^thm^.  powe^u,  l.^        ^_^  ^„, 


V 


r. 

I  chivalry  led  liim  to 
:er«  just  afforded  the 
0U8  tueorlcb  to  apiieaso 
id  enough  persrlcuclty 
to  urge  the  physlciaa 
preme  businees  of  tlie 
Account  and  thus  she 
>e  aUke  ot  thought  and 

son  we  draw  a  veil,  if 
juch  a  sceue  are  purely 
d  be  beyond  the  apprc- 
enius.   'They  belong  to 
Idraitfttists  have  never 
have,  struck  with  the 
%Uu,  they  have  checked 
re  and  there  some  light 
'  angels  feared  to  ticait; 
nt  that  wliich  mncifesta 
nyaterious  spiritual  lan- 
3  meaning  from  heart  to 
leen  chord,  has  only  the 
)  supreme  as  not  even  to 
its  own  wea'vieas. 
jc:.  and  with  a  triglilful 
I  hurricane  ot  griet  had 

his  mother.  She  was  a 
dant  and  beautitui  black 
ren  was  now  as  white  as 
eie'shrunkcn;  the  bright 
le  been  exliuguished  for- 

iparable  sorrow.  Still,  it 
lio  aftermath  ot  sultermg 
u  him,  was  a  melancholy 
e  and  beauty  left  to  kcei> 
ek  perpetual  emotions  ot 

hour  ot  commingled  aor- 
1  George  Barton  began  lo 
nable  crime  had  wrought 
passion  and  wralh  wiihm 
r  with  a  fearful  intens^ity. 
rtable  became  his  leelmgs 
I  rushing  to  his  chambers, 
1  wild  cbniorlions  of  rage. 
and  terrible,  such  as  had 
a  his  lips,  he  vowed  uud 
entup  passions  of  his  soul 

uroved  how  vast  were  tiie 
;ation,  and  selt-iespect  liad 
ful  being.  ,, 

r  uDOii  the  flowers  and  foU- 
h  were  sottly  stirrmg  with 


A    WEKK    OF    PASSION. 


189 


the  inaudible  breath  of  a  summer  zephyr.  His  two  birds,  pluming 
themselves  in  the  sunny  liirht,  were  singing  in  cheerful  notes  their 
evening  hymn.  And  along  the  surface  of  the  broad  liver  a  golden 
splendor  gleamed  soft  and  heavenly,  transfiguring  the  smoky  faces 
of  the  time- worn  monuments,  of  the  dingy  buildings,  the  irray  front 
of  Somerset  llonse,  the  f  retKid  towers  of  the  palace  at  Westminster, 
the  floating  barges  ana  darting  steamers,  the  long,  curved,  granite 
lines  of  the  embankment,  broken  liere  and  tliere  by  the  massive 
silhouettes  ot  the  great  bridges,  and  seemed  to  say  that  foi  all  that 
is  gloomy  and  evil  and  abject  there  is  an  hour  ot  transformation  and 
brightness. 

Of  all  this  he,  writhing  in  anguich.  was  unconscious.  The  carol 
of  the  birds  and  the  joy  ot  sunlight  could  not  touch  a  heart  which 
was  ablaze  with  flames  of  wrath  and  vengeance. 

"Oil,  mother!  motlier!  mother!  dear,  dear  mother!  Oh,  father! 
father!  Damned  and  dastardly  scoundrels  who  have  done  this  hellish 
deed!  Fiends!  sons  of  Satan!  wlielps  ot  hell!  1  curse  and  loathe 
3'ou— all— all  who  have  had  any  part  in  this  toul  crime,  and  all  con- 
nected with  them;  1  curee  them,  every  soul  ot  them,  and  all  they 
love,  and  all  they  possess!  May  the  fury  and  vengeance  of  God 
blast  and  destroy  them,  without  one  solitary  excepticml" 

And  so  on— a  black  and  bloody  current  of  fury,  turbid,  wild,  un- 
restrained, whirling  on  reblstless,  hurling  along,  in  its  foaming 
breakers,  the  wrecks  and  ruins  of  all  his  hopes  and  affections;  yes, 
even  his  love  for  Lady  Blanche,  hurtled,  bruised,  and  inanimate,  in 
that  cruel  torrent.  lie  seemed  to  take  a  pleasure  in  battering  and 
spurning  it.  In  proportion  to  tlie  intensity  ot  his  idolatry  Was  the 
bitterness  of  his  satisfaction  in  casting  it  away  It  seemed  to  be  a 
kind  of  sacrificial  offering  to  the  manes  of  the  dead,  to  the  ruins  ot 
the  living.  It  was  a  love  that  was  accuised,  because  it  stood  be- 
tween his  heart,  and  justice  and  vengeance;  because  it  had  whis- 
pered of  mercy,  when  it  really  involved  a  mean  and  cowardly  trea- 
son to  his  lather's  memory;  because  it  would  have  paralyzed  the 
arm  that  should  strike  with  unflinching  severity.  She!  She  was 
the  earl's  daughter;  and  in  that  dreadful  hour  the  earl  was  the 
vilest  of  the  criminals.  His  wrong,  his  paltry  interests  of  pride  and 
selfishness  and  fortune,  had  led  to  thi,3  sacrifice  ot  two  noble  creat- 
ures, fkis  agents  had  done  the  deed,  and  every  living  soul  connected 
with  him  was  to  George  Barton's  disordered  mind  an  accomplice  in 
the  crime. 

Had  the  earl  come  in  at  that  moment  he  would  have  killed  him, 
and  human  justice  wouid  have  struck  him  down  for  the  commis- 
sion of  an  act  lie  could  no  more  have  controlled  than  he  could  the 
tour  winds  ot  Iv   'en. 

No  lay  of  moi...  or  material  light  could  penetrate  such  darkness 
as  that.  Amid  the  roar  of  such  a  torrent,  and  the  thunder,  and  the 
blasting  play  ot  lightning,  even  an  angel's  voice  must  surely  be  un- 
heard; an  angel's  face,  however  near,  remain  unseen! 

llow  long  tills  transport  lasted  he  was  quite  unconscious. 

Suddenly  he  became  aware  that  there  was  some  one  at  the  en- 
trance ot  his  room.  In  his  agitation  in  entering  lie  had  in:  perfectly 
closed  the  outer  door  ot  his  suite  of  clmmbers.  Two  visitors  had 
penetrated  into  the  antechamber,  nii'l  ireiilly  pushed  open  the  door 


,.%, 


190 


A    AVEEK    OF    PASSION. 


.1.. 


4!l 


like  lb.'  mane  of  an  unKiy  '  o» •     ^  *;?,.^'  elincheil   nml  tl.cre  whs 
f.ft  ly  P,limohe  vcniame:l  i or  '">   "^t"'  •  ;\\'^,    Thuu,  with  a  quick, 

\Z.  7-"f!-t;.  t^.^^uJoi^!*;    urSacn.  overwhelm- 
At  tbo  sight  ot  tha   teartui  ^""^""t"  "  i,„i,,ncu  nil  the  unUuowu 

aud  umliscovereil  fountains  ot  > "  »«^'=    "  ,     j  t„e  prophet's 

r,ent.  like  the  ^"'f «  «f  "^^  X  s    el  ing  llow  ot  crystill  springs 
waml,  ami.  torrent  tor  t„7[™\  "^'i^i'^.  ^  ".""of  his  wrath, 
of  love  had  come  to  meet  the  trbia^a^^  barton's  heart. 

A  vivid  pang  of  anguish  thr  1  led  ^^J^'^^^'^jj^.s',,  i*^,„,.icane  of  teel- 
switt  and  brief  as  liBl''?'"S;  '^  ™  '™^\'„  one  moment  to 
u!.;.  like  a  rushing,  nughty  wind  w  hicl^^  ^  an"  <1«"8«  coramo- 
Bweop  his  sours  l'""'""  ^^'^^^  ° ,,''  I,  L  sifv .  in  its  place,  a 

lion  whicu  had  been  raging  "'"  .  ^>  ,'^,.^11^  'Cj  the  birds  in  the 
quick  glow  of  sunlight  ^  ^  [/J'^V'^v  St.  filled  bis  ears  with  a 
wndow.  roused  by  the  uoist  ami  "'  ,j„^v_only  for  an 

She  knelt  down  '"«'^°^'y;13">'ead    rapidly   undoing  his 

that  had  fallen  over  '»«  ^f '"      J°iX "  wZe  eyes  this  Icene 
necktie  and  collar  ere  LodChude^^  .i^^^^  ^^^^^^  ,^ 

...eanr     He  ran  torwa  d  an    seized  hei  wm._  Heaven's 

Bl.:nche,  go  away  quick-1  U  ftitend  to  mm    y  . 

'""Water!"  she  said,  hoarsely,  shaking  oQ  his  hand.    "  Will  you 
go.  1  say?  or  must  I  fetch  it?  .     .  ^  ^  j^p^a  Charles  gave 

such  a  thing—" 


rgo  Hiuton  loi>kc(l  tip. 

tiding  in  tlio  doorway, 

M\i  bchinil  lliuni— two 

lerriUed  fuc38— Lord 

ood  u])  nrouud  his  head 
veto  licrce  and  tlainini; 
ilincheil,  and  tliere  was 
I!  a  niovi!  lis  it  lie  wtTC 
,rily  Bhrunlv  back  a  slop. 
11  b(T  liands  clnsped  in 
er.  Thuu,  with  a  quick. 
s  hi'art— "  GeoriTf  Bar- 
8t(;pH,  and  thrrtwiug  her 
V  lieart. 

llie  sudilon,  overwhelm- 
alnncu,  all  the  unkuowa 
I  lieen  unsealed  in  a  mo- 
touch  ot  the  prophet's 
r  tlow  ot  crystid  springs 
^of  his  wrath. 
I  Georgi!  Barton's  heart, 
fresh  liurricane  of  trel- 
eeincd  in  one  moment  to 
ilack  and  dense  coramo- 
sky;  tuid,  iu  its  place,  a 
re.    And  the  birds  in  the 
nt,  tilled  bis  ears  with  a 
llieiu  now— only  for  an 
\nd  then,  before  he  could 
oving  pressure,  the  blood 
,  he  slipped  out  of  Lady 

'or.  .  ,  ,,. 

k-uter.  water!  quick! 
;k  witli  her  band  the  hair 
lad,  rapidly  undoing  his 
re  whose  ej-es  this  scene 
the  time  it  has  taken  to 
resence  of  mind,  his  judg- 

V— 1  mean,  what  does  this 
r  arm.  "  O  Lord.  1  sajr, 
3  bim— go,  for  Heaveus 

oQ  his  hand.    "Will  you 

d  that  Lord  Charles  gave 
for  the  water.    Uis  reflec- 

mspected  that.  1  wisli  to 
t  will  the  earl  sayV  Foor 
ctly  dreadtuU    Never  saw 


A    WEEK    OF    P.VSSION, 


191 


"  Chnrlie!  Chnrlle!" 

He  ran  Imck  with  the  watcr-jng.  ^e  had  thrown  ofT  lirr  boiuK-t 
nnd  i:  ov,.s,  and  was  kneeling  by  r.arton'.s  side,  chaOng  hi  ,e  ,. 
con  hands  ,n  hor  own.  so  small  and  delicate,  but  warm  will     ifu 

seemed  ihallnMlow  and  ghasUincsM  of  death  had  tall.'n  Ur  i\ 

o     .-nr  run    h.ougl,  Lord  Clmrl.ss  frame  as  he  lool    d  at  the  fa  'o 
But  he  wn.s  brave,  an<l  liad  recovered  his  coolness 
<  Imilin.  what  do  vou  think?  " 

•'Think!  1  think  he  has  fainted.     Lookout!" 

And  JJhMiclie  scarcely  )md  time  to  got  out  ot  thn  wnv  whr-n  a 
great  dash  of  water  went  into  the  fnreot  he  lover  foT^ow.M  In  a 
second  and  a  third.  Lord  Charles  went  on  one  knee  leile 'ids 
Sevcl  me?°«l';:   '"""  """.'•""•''"  ''•     Blanche  took  the  o"h' 

cent le  ■  Tn  ll'  til  »    "*"'"'•*''  """'?""•■  '^°''''  <"'""-lc«'''  "'f  had  srown ' 
gen  le      lo  Ids  hrst  surprise  and  pain,  at  the  aRtoundini;  move  ot 
hs  beloved  and  adm  re,l  sister,  to  his  natural  and  ariXmiie  sen«  > 
ot  the  impropriety  of  her  conduct,  and  the  far  n.ore  «t°io.  s  , ,/.  » 
^<na>.r<-  nf  that  which  it  Impor.e.l,  there  had  succeeded  a  te,.!; 
eeling.  half  sympathy,  half  regret  ior  his  sister,  and  deep  Vorro  v 
tor  George  Barton.     As  for  her,   he  had  read  in  her  eve    aTtl  at 
moment  when  she  so  peiemptorilv  refused  fo  le^tve  Georivs  ^^ 
an  irrevocable  resolution,  such  as  he  had  nev.-r  i^nown  to  s  ic^"     i; 
when  ,,nce  it  was   orme.l  in  her  mind;     She  whom  lie  t lio  ight    m 
preL^uable,  whom  he  had  seen  unmoved  by  the  most  b     lint  sk- ' 
Zt'on  '  TT.arr.«"f  "'  '"f  "p^l'''^'  '°^''^'-""'»  «1'«3  lovid  Ge or^l 
tt''Zshi'n"itXtseT  '"^■"''"''  "'"  '"'""^  '°  ^«^"  ^"'^-'-  "* 
„i  i  ^^J"'"',"  '"*  ^.".''^ '"  •''n>8'-lf,  as  lie  rubbed  away  vifforouslv   "  it's 
plain  she  loves  him;  and  it  she  does,  by  .love  I'lf  stand  to  her  " 

And  looking  uj)  at  her  lace,  which  ha-l  grown  paleauain  he  eavo 
her  an  encouraging  smile,  frank  and  manly,  and  said  ^ 

is  coLdngloumi''-''-''''  '"""'''-'•    °'"'''  '°  *^'«"'*'°*'^-     ^  "'"^^  he 
T  nnw^iif  ^  "'oment  Barton  opened  his  eyes.     They  fell  fir.st  upou 
Lady  Blanche's  sweet  face,  and  then  upon  that  ot'  Lord  ChiXs 
Both  were  lient  over  him  with  tender  .  nxiety.     A  sbght  sh  u d er 
passed  through  his  frame  at  the  recollection  of  thatLu  dream  mU 
of  which  he  had  awakened;  then  the  song  of  the  birds  resoui  ck  1 
swee   and  loud  iu  his  ears,  a  very  pa.,.,  of^oy.     It  seemed         .'. 
as  If  their  melody  had  never  been  interrupted:  and  the  ™.    ],od 
siiddeiily  pulsating  through    his   wholJ  system,   as    he    recaneJ 
Blanche  s  last  ac.  he  seized  the  little  hand  which  was  in  his  and 
carried  it  to  his  lips.     She  blushed,  a  divine  blush  of  love  and  X- 
gin  modesty;  and  Lord  Churles.  n.uttering,  ' 

ton/  nn'  L'',?  Ti  1''""  "^  '"'?'''•"  "''"'''^'  "  Ar«  yo"  better.  Bar- 
Ri^Li.       '^n"  "''"''  >«",t""'''  Kct  up?      Take  his  other  arm 
B  anche.    1  here,  you  will  be  better  on  the  sofa.    So.    Now  1  sav' 
^'?.",'i"'''  ?'?.°^^''7ljS« «»"  "e»^t  now :  what  the  deuce  are  w^to  do  Z^*' 
Charlie!"    cried  Lady  Blanche,  taking  both  his  bancs   and 

*  "ies,"  replied  tord  Charles,  with  a  aide  glance  at  George,  who 


192 


A     WF.r.K    OK    PASSIOV. 


now  tliorouKlilv  nllvc  to  nil  llnil  lin.l  i>hs.«m1,  whs  looklnir  on  Mlont, 
with  wonilir  n.ul  i>aiii  nml  l.lisH  ail  coniminglfil.  "  Hut  I  iu;vlt  saw 
such  II  iliui',' ill  my  lif<'!"  ,  ,         .       ,,    ,    i„.,„. 

rmh  J'.lMiuiicV  tica.l  drooped  unilcr  tbo  carious,  troulilc.l  «la"C<' 
of  h.r  hiolluT  iiiKl  lier  liciirl  tlirol.l.fd.  us  slu;  rfCivllcd  tliu  sliauRC- 
ness  and  siunlfWncc  ot  tl..'  mov.'mcnt  to  widcli  n  sudden  emotion 
liad  pn..ni.tc'd  t.cr  with  a  foiw  llial  llccli  and  l.lood  ('oiild  n.jt  con- 
trol \ii'l  Vft  tliriUcd  with  the  ecstasy  of  that  (luick  revelation, 
slic'di.i  not  rcu'rct  it.  ^*lle  had  no  time  to  nnalvze  her  tiioiii;lil'f;  Init 
to  tlie  touch  ol  rea«on  her  liciirt  re|.ealed,  in  helliilu!  tones  that  Ihr^ 
noon  ol  love  had  struck-and  struck  just  and  true,  'i  f -^  'i'  loved 
him  slie  iiltitnow  In  evcrv  tilicr  ol  lier  heinL';  and  looking  up 
siivlV  Mtt(r  n  moment  (It  (ontusion.  caused  hy  lier  brotlier  spene 
trati'im  look,  Klie  caUKlit  Oeor-.-s  eyes  lixed  iijion  lier  wth  wondei- 
In.' adoration,  lie  look  lier  hand,  (iazin!?  in  each  otiier  s  faces 
tliev  lo'tt  all  consciousness  of  anythini;  hut  their  own  unutlernlile 
Lai.piness.  Loid  Charles  silently  went  ntit  into  the  untechamber. 
nml   leiivinL'  the  door  ajar,  paced  slowly  up  und  down. 

Tlicv  were  alone;  the  hhds  sunn  high  and  clear,  and  the  rays  ol 
thesiiikini,'  fnn  filled  the  room  with  a  softened  glow.  The  light 
playetl  upon  Hlanches  hair,  kissing  the  satin  beauty  of  her  cheek. 
&he  had  never  seemeil  to  him  more  lovely.  The  exci  einent  had 
deepened  the  usually  iicntie  lint  of  her  sk'.i  into  a  briglit  glow,  and 
stran-elv  cmickencd  the  crystalline  benutN  of  her  eyes;  and  her  face 
was  transfigured  bv  that  smile  ot  love  whicli  owes  Us  lender  mag- 
ical cliarn)  to  the  s'adness  that  underlies  all  deep  human  emolion. 

As  vet  he  was  bardlv  able  to  realize  wliat  liad  liappencd.  lie 
Bpomcd  to  have  awakenJd  from  a  dreailtul  nightmare  upon  a  noon 
of  splendor  and  a  vision  of  angels,  lie  cIos.mI  Ins  eyes  and  the  lior- 
?lble  rtcollections  coming  bacU  to  him  with  vivid  force,  he  shucl- 
de red  Opening  them  a-ain.  tlie  light  was  all  around  him,  and  she 
was  liierc.  looking  at  him  with  startled  but  tender  anxiety. 

<•Oh''^\lanch?^ToVe  yo.i-l  lore  you!"  lie  pressed  lier  hand 
against  his  throbbing  heart,  throbbing  now  with  the  full  pulse  ot 

^"%w  knelt  bv  his  side:  he  throw  his  arms  round  her;  their  lips 
„,et  i.  the  flrst  kiss  o!  love,  while  the  birds  seemed  to  si"fe'  n.ore 
shrillv  and  triumphantly  than  before,  '•  1  ^^^  J''.'^-^^"  y°" '  ,,,, 
Slie  drew  her  head  back  a  moment,  and  pushing  the  hair  ott  his 
brow  with  her  hand,  every  touch  of  winch  sen  a  »resh  thril^ 
through  his  frame,  said,  while  the  modest  flush  deepened  in  ber 

luce. 

•' What  can  you  think  of  me  ^ 

"  Vou  are  an  angel-an  angel  trom  heaven  sent  to  rescue  me  from 
madness,  and  horror  worse  than  death."  „.„«.,„ 

Mo  man  in  Georce  Barton's  position  could  appreciate  the  fine 
shade  ot  anguish  that  had  penetrated  Lady  Blanche  s  lone  ^jlipn  sn« 
put  that  question.  He  was  too  wrapped  up  in  the  bliss  of  feeling 
that  she  had  owned  herself  hi?,  iu  wonder  at  his  triumph,  to  estimate 
the  lull  extent  of  the  sacrifice  she  had  made  in  anaudoning  her 
woman's  prerogative-the  risilit  to  be  sought  for  and  not  to  seeli 
The  avowal  that  had  been  wning  from  her  heart  in  an  unguarded 


Ir 


A    w  i:i:k    oc    I'a.-skin. 


10.1 


IS  looklni;  •»'  sllont, 
,   "  Hut  I  ni;VL'r  siiw 

)U3,  troulilctl  ulnncc 
■I'civllcd  iliu  sliauRC- 
li  n  Hiuldcn  einolion 
lood  could  ndl  con- 
it  iniit'k  rcvuliition, 
fv  her  llioiii;hlf ;  but 
llilu!  toncH.  tlmlllio 
rue.  Yes— ?lio  lovctl 
iL';  mid  looking  up 
:  her  brolhiT'sponc 
[)n  licr  with  woiidoi- 
ciicli  otIicr'M  fiu'cs, 
L'ir  own  uiiutlernl)le 
[o  tlio  uiitecliainl)er, 
I  down. 

cnr,  and  the  iftvs  ol 
.■d  glow.  Tlic  light 
»cnuty  of  lier  clieek. 
Tlie  cxciteint-nt  lind 

0  II  l>riglit  glow,  and 
;r  eyes;  and  licr  face 
iwes  its  tender  mag- 
[>  liunuin  emotion. 

had  happened.  lie 
Ijimare  ui>on  a  noon 
is  eyes  and,  the  lior- 
ivid  force,  he  sliud- 
around  him,  and  she 
ider  anxiety. 

lie  pressed  l)er  liand 
itU  the  full  pulse  of 

•ound  her;  their  lips 
seemed  to  sing  more 
jxu — Hove  you!" 
jhing  the  hair  oil  his 

1  sent  a  fresh  thrill 
ash  deepened  in  her 


snt  to  rescue  me  from 

I  appreciate  the  flue 
inche's  tone  when  she 
ri  the  bliss  of  feeling 
s  triumph,  to  estimate 
ie  in  abandoning  her 
for  and  not  to  seek, 
sart  in  an  unguarded 


moment  appeared  more  nalund  and  b'ss  iinfciidnlno  to  him,  glowing 
with  (lie  hiippln('q«  <il  lilcM><('d  aMMuriiuci',  than  ii  would  have  dono 
fiiulil  he  Imve  tuiily  Judged  it  apart  from  the  joy  ol  the  discovery. 
Jlcrijuick  intuition  told  licr  this. 

"  Vcn,  'hIu!  said,  burylni:  her  blushing  face  In  his  shoulder;  "  but, 
Gcoiue,  Gcnrge,  only  think  what  I  have  done!" 

"  What  you  have  done,  my  own  nianche— I  may  call  you 
DIanuluV— you  luo  my  own  udw,  aie  you  noiv— imlv  u  noble  soul 
like  ymir.s  could  liavc  done!  You  liiive  lifted  n  dark  curtain  which 
bliiit  tmni  mj  eyes  Hk;  secrets  of  your  lieart.  You  have  suddenly 
let  in  upon  iny  soul  all  the  light  and  waniilh  of  your  love." 

"  Ah:  IJcorgc,"  sliu  said,  raising  !icr  head  and  scarcliimr  his  ej'e.s, 
"  you  do  not  yet  uiidevstand  what  1  have  doiic.  I  must  tell  yon  all 
frankly,  lor  this  is  an  hour  (vlieii  there  must  be  no  secrets  between 
us,  and  soul  must  .speak  to  soul  as  if  in  the  prcsencf!  of  a  divinity 
who  will  make  our  future  liapjiy  or  ndser/ible  according  to  the  truth 
and  ))uiily  of  our  thoughts  iiud'feclinLis  at  tills  moment.  George— 
1  must  ttll  you— when  1  came  to  that  door  with  ("liarlie  1  hud  no 
Idea  of  the  real  slati;  of  my  heart  lowurd  you.  We  have  spent  many 
years  of  constant  iniercoiirse  and  lrlendshi)>;  we  have  met  often, 
and  exchanged  our  tliDiighls  freely,  but  always  under  tlic  restraint 
—with  the  conviction  that— you  know— the  conditions  of  our  tsvo 
lives  ailoweil  of  no  closer  ties';  and  so,  as  dav  succeeded  (li>v.  there 
Was  no  minute  when  my  heart  had  consciously  taken  a  longer  step, 
or  feelings  Imd  expanded  from  bud  to  blossom." 

"Oh,  nianclie!"  cried  George  Harton,  "  you  did  not  know  my 
lieart;  the  blos.soms  were  blooming  all  over  it,  Ihouga  they  were 
covered  by  the  veil  which  lioiior  and  loyally  to  you  and  yours,  and 
my  own  dignity— you  understand  me?— forced  me  to  throw  over 
them!" 

"I  know— 1  know;  1  do  not  say  that  I  had  not  dimly  guessed 
the  secret  you  strove  so  manfully  to  hide.  1  will  not  siiy'that  uoiv 
and  then  1  did  not  feel  the  chords  ol  my  heart  vibrate  strangely  in 
your  presence  and  at  your  words;  but  1  am  inexperienced;  I  did  not 
feel  it  to  he  all  that  1  lud  conceived  and  dreamed  of  ns  love;  1  did 
not  feel— as— as  I  do  now!"  and  she  hid  her  face  agam  on  his  bosom. 
"  One  thing  1  felt:  that  there  was  no  one  like  youamongall  1  knew 
—that  you  had  an  intellectual  power,  and  nobleness  of  soul,  and 
purity  and  warmth  of  heart,  and— yes.  let  mcsay  it— lake  your  hand 
oil  ray  moutu,  sir!— and  a  brilliancy  of  talent— 1  should  call  it  genius 
—widen  made  you  siijicrior  to  n>osl  men  1  had  met.  1  am  not  going 
1o  spoil  you  by  saying  more.  But  you  see,  George— and  you  must 
forgive  me— 1  am  one  of  tliose  poor  womi'ii  who  are  born  to  a  sta- 
tion—imprisoned in  a  close  circle  ot  conventionality— bniiight  up  to 
deliberate  short  sightedness- or,  rather,  hooded  like  the  falcon, 
whose  eyes  are  only  set  free  by  the  master's  hand  when  ho  has  fixed 
upon  the  object  at  whicli  tliey  are  to  strike.  My  Ihoiighls  were  not 
free;  1  was  trained  only  to  strike  at  the  highest  game;  and  what 
miserable  ,r/»icr  most  of  it  is!  And  only  fancy  what  a  girl  must  feel 
who  Is  brought  up  almost  as  a  bird  ot  prey." 

"  1  don't  know,"  said  George,  a  little  pang  of  jealousy  Bitting 
through  his  heart.     "  I  don't  know  about  the  gibie'r,  though.    It  is 


'M 


A    WKKK     OK    I'ASSIOX. 


«... 


Tlllmry."    Hu  was  tscull)-  stioUlng 


not  lit  all  nilHHuhU'.     Tlicrc  U 

c..uiUosHiu.ainvstO(    «n,l    mr  urn  ^^^^^,  innms.- 

„„k..s  '■'-•  ^'•^■l"/^  '■'  '         1        t .  m^  r\vlmlyou  will  ihiulc 


Ktld  I 


fill,  so  tiitiil,  9"  l"P>';'''''^'„,.  „„,  t,,,,,,,9  ^.iiicli  try  the  temper  of 

"  *^"''"^^:  ..'  "  a  So  vUh  'cool  Si  «>na.svl.ut  'fe.blo 
Btronii  8ou!>!,  siiUl  V  ,"'..,'•  Wi.un  1  see  utul  hu.ir  you  speuU- 
philoscpl'y  "f  trUitni.lmnt  love         \|    tn  1  «•-  ^^^'  "    ,^  ^„t  teilln-. 

k-^Tronr^flj^^;^^^^^ 

only  "'f '""'"^["''^^J's'iVa^     G.S"  '       ou  n'ake  such  .fu-vttcial 
very  h\^U  estimate  on  my  iimlerstnudiuj,'. 
^  Vou SSJy'm  Hot  allow  mc  to  cbcrish  the  delusion  ioug ." 

-.f^\^eli;S^^  ;£Sf  i|u.  cuH^M^cvut^Je  lu  aim^ 
bas  happened;   ^ome  people  «  ml  Icalov^  ^  ^^^^ 

expected  to  picU  llie  one  V^^""- ' ,  >  „,.,„„„,,^,„„  settled  down   upon 
uiJer  sen.e  of  aissat.s^acl>on   u.d  h^^^^^^^^^^^^  l^j,^ 

me.  and  1  rcMly  lelt  f  J^],;"  *;,;"  i„n  «   iny  lite.    And  somehow 

onlv  possible  and  endunible  '^o/"  »°*?P  °\  ,/„£w  i,e  wab  so  ill;  and 

n,y-henrtmeltedaimetowa..^^^^ 

1  became  iw^scflsedwih  the  idea  tuaiio„  ^^^^  ^^^^^,^ 

iiCalill^f  co.S-«^    ^^-^  Sd;g,:i.Uhough  1  may  have 


)  wo»  gcnlly  slioliing 

I  curiously. 
tH  juHl  upoti  my  ll|"t' 
rut  known  unly  to  tlic 
[iciiL'tl  todiiv,  i!  riully 
I  foolisli  mid  iiuMiusc- 
)!•  wliiil  you  sviU  ihiiili 
i  reiiUy  urn  voiy  U,m\ 
ihiHh— thciv  is  :i  little 
you  why  I  L:iiV(;  yciu 
til  \iliu.     Ilu  vv:"*  txT 
!  ciitirL'  iic'i'r,i;.'i'.  luul  1 
:c  ilylnj;  llmi  I  sbouKl 

;)\V.    BillCf    lit'*    illllt'ni— 

.  U)vc'a  nil'  (Ifc'i'ly  i>'"l 

hciiil  lually   bleil  tor 

notions  1  Imve   pnssuil 

It  nil  scrms  8o  wouder- 

ilch  try  tbc  temper  of 
iiud  Bonvuwliat   feeblo 
ice  unil  liL'iir  you  speak - 
nudi  tleptU  ot  teellnj^', 
111-  soul  is  thiui  mine, 
lo  yourself  au  lujuslice, 
My  euioliiius  luive  beeu 
p  anil  yours  ot  piission, 
tiu'8  being.     1  have  liad 
sorrow,  while  you  liuvo 
u  make  such  gupertlcial 
I  think  you  iUj  not  set  iv 


riah  tbc  clelusiou  long," 

us  lusci'Uiiible  in  all  that 
,t '  proviilontial.'     \Vhea 
areutly,  and  lini;ireil  ou 
ml  1  knew  that  his  poor 
I  loviuL'  pilv  took  iM)5soi.- 
l  nie,  George;  anil  when 
son,  and  ot  all  the  dreary 
lein  tresh,  some  ot  them 
i.'ly    troui  whieh  1   was 
my  heart  Ihroufjh  life,  un 
auess  settled  down   upoa 
iiy  Cousin  Edward  as  the 
iny  lite.    And  somehow 
1  knew  he  was  so  ill;  and 
irht  to  sacrifice  niyselt,  if 
s  own  sake.  Imt  his  niolh- 
ge,  although  1  may  have 


A    M'KKK    or     I'.VSSION'. 


103 


raii'.'hi  "nlle  flnshen  and  ),'Ilnip»e«  of  a  likln'.;  for  me  Inyoui  Itehavior 

now  Hill]  Ihcil  — " 

"Oh'  '  ;;roaned  Mr.  Uurton. 

"Hllll,  y.)ii  must  iidmit  that  1  had  precioun  little— liardly  more 
than  . I  pin-point  lo  liuild  a  romance  upon— imlil  liwl  tiluht, 'win n  I 
tliliiu  v.iu  behaved  very  badly— wilh  Colston  looUiiiu  on  nil  Ihu 
while-' 

Itiirton  lei/.cd  the  hand  on  which  he  liad  eounniUed  the  IrespaM, 
and  Ulx-t'd  it  Iwice- three  times,  piisslonatcly. 

"  lltjt.  you  see,  tliat  had  not  hui^pened  at  llio  tln\o  I  am  speaklnj? 
of,  and  I  seemed  to  be  doomed  to  just  one  choice,  anil  lliero  was  a 
little— just  u  liitle— movement  of'my  heart  that  way.  So  I  went 
and  told  dear  Aunt  Doia  all  about  It  frankly,  and  oliered  lo  iro  au(l 
nur^>e  him,  and  like  tlie  high-souled,  t-'ood,  honorable  creiituro  she 
is,  she  said  siio  could  not  accept  a  sacrifice,  slie  uuist  liave  love— ft 
demotion.  ' 

"  Uless  her!"  murmured  OcorRc,  as  lie  drew  a  deep  breath  of 
relief,  lor  never  had  lover  listened  lo  a  more  (lis(iuietinj,'  luirrallve. 

"Gcorgcl"  cried  Lady  Blanche,  nervously,  lor  her  whole  soul 
wiH  in  tills  confes.siou,  and  her  heart  was  tlirobbiiig  with  an.\ioly  a-i 
slie  tried  to  read  Hie  ellett  of  it  in  liis  face,  for  now  it  liad  l)ecbnio 
life  and  death  to  her  that  lie  shoul<l  love  her  without  n  shade  of 
d()ul)t,  williout  a  solitary  atom  of  reserve- "  Oeor^ie!  lldnk  of  i'.; 
this  was  only  yesterday— yesterday  inorninci— I  could  not  say  1 
loved  him— and  wlieii  1  came,  early  this  very  uiornin);,  to  think 
seriously  over  what  1  had  done  and  wliat  mif,'ht  liavc;  come  of  it,  I 
thanked  Heaven  for  my  escaiio,  (or  1  could  never,  never  lio  happy 
with  any  one  unless  f  could  give  him  my  whole  soul.  And  tlieu, 
last  evening,  you  came;  and  you  lookcid  at  nio  so  earnestly,  and  you 
looked,  oh!  bo  very  sorrowful,  and  yet,  I  llioujjiht,  so  noble  in  your 
sorrow;  and— and  you  let  mc  see  a  little  more  of  your  lieart  than  1 
had  ever  seen  before,  and  sonieiiow  I  could  not  get  your  face  and 
ligui'e  out  ot  my  mind;  but  still  1  did  not  know  what  was  the  real 
slate  of  my  heart— until— until  1  saw  you,  tliere— you— generally  so 
Strom;  ami  calm  and  ."ielf-restniined- apparenliyquile  shattered  and 
wrecked  by  the  tempest  ot  your  griefs;  and  then,  George,  oh!  1  can 
not  tell  you  what  went  Ihrougli  my  lieart  like  a  quick,  sharp  stat). 
and  it  s''cn?ed  as  it  hot  hidilen  sprnursguslied  out  toward  you;  and  I 
knew  that  you  were  more  precious  to  me  than  evcryliiing  else— tliau 
my  dignity,  my  womanly  reserve— ay,  even  my  life— and  that— 1 
Joved  you!" 

Iler  heati  drooped  upon  his  siioulder,  and  while  tears  of  love  and 
joy  flowed  from  his  eyes  he  pressed  it  against  his  heart. 

"  Oil,  Blanche,  Tilanche,  my  love,  my  sweet,  what  can  1  ever  give 
you  in  return  lor  sudi  a  love  as  this- a,  love  whicli  has  gone  through 
the  crucil)le  and  has  come  out  pure  gold?  This  is  the  sweetest  story 
that  ever  fell  from  human  lips  on  human  ears.  Bltinche,  my  love, 
it  is  only  now  tliat  1  begin  lo  reali/.e  what  a  sacritice  you  have  made 
for  poor,  unworthy  me!  Hiind,  stupid,  selfish  creature  that  1  am! 
1  was  so  wrapped  up  in  my  own  bliss  that  1  did  not  take  in  all  the 
grandeur  of  your  devotion— tlie  divine  magnanimity  of  your  love. 
Blanche,  1  could  go  down  and  kiss  your  feet  and  worshiji  you;  for 
by  your  side  1  am  only  a  pior,  \'eak  mortal,  while  you—"  " 


196 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOK. 


f 


Stay,  Gcorger  sue. .ij^ putting  1-n^ 
no  more.     1  wiiLleil  «"'>  ,|"/ \V,, [Tad  not  lost  a  fragmuut  ot  that 

of  "««ctipu-8uchasl  eat  tliebo^  ^^  ^^^^.^.^^  ^j 

'TtTw  raomcrLUd  CU.rto  lapped  llgUlly  »«  U,.  door.  .».! 

said,  ,  .  „,, 

"  1  sav  may  1  come  in?  ,  ,  »  „„. 

and  stay  in  Portman  S;^"f,f •^,,.,  ''^. '"'  ,"r>.,ev's  chambers,  would 
excuse.  Blanche,  who  had  nexei  seiu  a  '>'"'•'/■'  "t^       ^    ,  'n  ^^^ 

accomi,..ny  me  up  here  t«  «''n>"S';    o'  -^l^'l;^^  ^^^^'/^ear  fellow. 

ffcmVt;.lw\now  Se  mess?  Uallool  old  fellow,  1  say-are  you  ill 

^«'  Charles's  gravity  or  ^^XXroHUr^styS^K 
form  of  h.8  1""P\''J^";J  "f  i    tuSly  ^  ^ouc  of  his  voice. 

Sk  S.nl^^n^S'^nhrSr  a^that  of  an  undertaker,  and  in 

the  impertuvbal.le  g-^'^^''^  »/ ''^f, '"^""kinu  George  at  tho  mentioa 
o^^I£,  SITP-  S^nd^  ril!  ■  ^aS^nd  a  visible  anguisU 

driven  me  mail.  >!>  P°f' ""'"^l.  \^^^,  i^.^jr  is  while  as  ^now;  her 
is  simply  a»vful.  bhe  '^i',.^'"^,^ ','^,'e"  gves-"  He  shuddered 
*npp  is  shrunken;  and  her  eyes— oir.  ntr  '-J      , ,    „j..i,, 

her  to  speak. 


PASSIOK. 

iiT  tinners  ou  his  lips;  "  1  want 
you  unilerstuod  aie— that  you 
d  not  lost  11  fragmuut  ot  that 
re  essential  to  tlio  P'  rmanence 
1  ot  my  love  for  you.  Weie  a 
lould  teel  that  Uie  sacritice  of 
jad  bc(!n  thrown  away.  You 
ly— but  in  a  way  that  carries 
',u.  Oh,  George,  Geoigu!  what 
nu— lloveyiJul"  , 

1  excited  car  sung  the  ouiis,     i 

?ped  lightly  on  the  door,  and 


'al  he  went  on; 

;  you  know,  and  it's  past  six 

'  Ibis  sort  ot  thing  might  go  on 

1  unite  lost  his  head  to  remind 

idoii,  and  that  the  earl  dines  at 

nuer." 

ussioii.     This,  indeed,  was  com- 

•ithailits  blackness. 

,0  his  inquiring  look,     tuat;  is 

1  Lord  Charles,  "  what  was  in 
)\v  AVe  wanted  to  get  you  to 
lelp  us  to  persuade  her  to  come 
earl  insists  on  It— %vill  take  no 
>n  a  barrister's  chambers,  would 
Sou  -and,  by  Jove!  1  should  say 
i  know,  George,  my  dear  fellow, 
i  I've  been  turning  it  over  m 
spooning,  and  I  tell  you  my  coa- 
\,  but  how  are  you  going  to  get 
jo!  old  fellow,  1  say-are  you  ill 

nity  never  expressed  itself  in  the 
waysot  the  rococo  style:  that  is, 
lity  but  in  the  tone  ot  his  voice, 
as 'that  ot  an  undertaker,  and  in 
annex:  ,  ..„„ 

ipeaking.  George,  at  the  mention 
Lo  his  head,  and  a  visible  anguisli 

Laylou,  it  is  this  which  has  nearly 
—you  will  not  recognize  her!  It 
L-  "her  hair  is  white  as  i-now;  her 
oh!  her  eyes-"  He  shuddered 
ut  an  intolerable  sight. 
excluuiL'ed  glances.  The  young 
jrave  and  gloomy.    He  nodited  to 


A     WEEIv    OF    PASSION'.  197 

"  George,"  she  said,  "  in  deep,  earnest  tones,  "  it  you  rcMlly  lovo 
me,  (IS  1  believe  you  do,  tell  us  svhat  this  all  means!  What  is  this 
dreadful  business  about  your  fatlier?  What  is  this  about  your  poor 
motlier?  Wliat  is  the  horril)le  secret  wnicb  ;s  diivins  you— frantic? 
Tell  me— tell  Charlie  and  mc,  both  of  whom  love  you—" 

"Both  of  whom  love  you,"  chimed  in  Lord  Charles's  manly 
voice. 

"—What  is  this  sorrow  wliich  seems  to  be  weighing  you  down, 
and  is  making  the  carl  look  like  a  walking  skeleton?" 

The  young  lorn  silently  approved  this  list  expression,  which 
struck  him  as  graphic,  by  a  nod  of  the  head. 

Tin's  appeal,  allhougli  it  seemed  full  of  peril,  was  salutary,  tor 
the  reason  that  it  obligeil  Genrge  Barton  to  divert  his  thoughts  from 
the  agonizing  subject  of  liis  mother,  and  to  summon  all  his  powers 
to  the  ilouble  task  ot  meeting  the  anxious  curiosity  of  Lady  Blanche, 
whose  ingenuous  love,  whose  generous  sacrifice,  railed  tor  some  cor- 
responding frankness  on  his  part,  and  of  avoidinj;  a  disclosure  of 
the  earl's  secret,  to  guard  which  had,  by  a  shift  of  ihe  weallier-gaga 
of  passion,  become  once  more  a  matter  of  paramount  importance  to 
him. 
Pie  opened  his  eyes  and  turned  them  on  the  fair  questioner. 
"  Blanche,"  he  said- then,  looking  shyly  at  Lord  Charles—"  you 
know  you  said  1  might  call  you  '  Blanche  '  now." 

A  smile  was  her  only  answer,  and  the  young  lord  almost  imper- 
ceptibly shrusrged  his  shouldeis. 

"  Blanche,  and  my  dear  Lord  Charles—" 

"  Humph!"  said  tlie  latter  grimly.  "  1  think  that  under  Ihe  cir- 
cumstances, over  which,  by  the  way,  1  have  no  control,  you  may  as 
well  call  me -Charlie.'"  ,  j  j  «» 

"  Tliankyou,  old  fellow;  long  ago,  when  we  were  younger,  1  used 
to  do  so.  Well,  1  must  own  to  you  that  1  think  if  vou  two  had  not 
come  in  when  you  did,  and  if  you,  dear  Blanche,  had  not  brought 
me  angel's  comfort,  in  tlie  sweetness  of  that  betrayal  which  1  should 
never  have  had  the  courasre  to  provoke,  spite  ot  the  passionate  love 
which  possessed  my  soul,  1  should  have  become  a  raving  madman." 
Lord  Charles  nodded.  "  ]\ow,  you  think,  very  properly,  that  j'ou 
have  a  right  to  some  expliiniiiion  ot  the  ground  of  these  ex- 
traordinary emotions— the  cause  ot  the  pain  and  aiiL'uisli  which 
brought  on  that  condition,  in  which  1  am  ashamed  and  mortified 
lo  think  you  found  me;  ay!"  he  added,  gravely,  in  response  to  a 
littb  i)resstirc  ot  l^ady  l?lanche's  hand,  and  a  shy  glance  of  her  eye,  " 
"  even  though  it  has  been  the  means  of  opening  to  me  the  golden 
gates  of  a  Paradise  at  which  1  had  so  of t-n g.izcd  with  longing  eyes, 
but  with  the  fteling  that  1  was  not  worthy  to  enter  it.  "  Blanche, 
Charlie— J'OU  must  believe  me— you  must,  if  you  love  and  trust  me, 
take  it  from  me— that  the  secret  1  am  carrying  is  not  my  own,  and 
that  the  experiences  ot  that  terrible  hour,  known  only  to  God  and 
me,  must  never  escape  my  lips— nc,  dearest  Blanche,  not  even  to 
you— tor  it  was  an  hour  of  folly  and  mudness." 

"  You  see,  my  dear  fellow,"  said  Lord  Chailes,  solemnly  shaking 
his  head,  "the  thing  is  this.  Blanche  and  j-ou  and  I  are  placed, 
by  her  astounding  coup  de  ionnerre— -which  was  just  like  one  ot  the 
scenes  in  Hugo's  novels,  where  the  most  outrageous  thing  that  could 


■'v'a- 


198 


A    AYEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


M 


i 


i50S8ibly  happen  turns  up  as  a  sort  of  evory-duy  evtnt-iu  a  Ncry 
Serious  post  on.      Thfre's  no  use  .ouccaliuj;   it-now  is  there. 
Blanche  -  hat  you  two  have  let  yourselves  in  lor  a  task  to  which 
fh^la  .ors  of   Mercules.   or  the  Chunuel  tuuucl,  or  tht   1  uuuma 
canal    or  anything  of  thai  kind,  you  know,  is  ineix-  child  s  play. 
FcrSvemt    George,  tor  being  a  little  frauk-1  don-t  want  'o  dis- 
S  S  >  ou.  or  you   Ulanche-ni  stick  to  you  now  the  die  -s  cast, 
but  niv  belie   istliat  it  the  carl  ever  hears  ot  this   we  must  all  nmke 
u    o,  r  m  nd8  to  bu  Imnged,  drawn  and  quaitered-he'll  cu   n.e  off 
w  th  a  slVilling  to  a  duuT  certainty,  and  you  will  never  gel  Im  con- 
^■n  i   you  waU  till  doomsday.     Well,  my  dear  George-candor  for 
candor-1  have  a  responsibility  in  regard  to  my  sister,    bhe  is 
cleverer  than  1  am,  (liough  she  is  younger;  but  1  am  a  man,  and  1 
will  never  stand  by  and  see  her  happiness  compromised  without 
making  an  ellort  to  save  her.     And  it  1  am  to  Iv  an  accessory  bo- 
fore  the  lact  and  after  the  tact  to  tliis  High-treason  and  conspiracy 
agdnsttbc  paternal  Priam,  1  must  at  least  be  satisl  ed  that  my  s.s- 
tei's  affection  is  not  lixed-in-ia  a  direction,  you  know,  in  vvhicU 
n,v  own  iudgment  tells  me  i.  is  wrong  anJ  dangerous  to  allow  it  to 
be  fixed      You  wont  mind  my  saying  it.  George;  you  kno^y  what  1 
mPin?     I  haven't   your  facility  and  elegance  ot  e.Npression,  you 
know  old  fellow   a'nd   I  cant  beat   ubout  the  bush  with  de.cate 
ouDhuisms'  but  what  1  mean  is,  tliat-1-1  think  you  ought  to  try 
^dmts^y  us  that  this  uwtul  lit  of  the  blues,  which  we  have  wit- 
^sse     vith  so  much  poin  and  regret,  is  due  to  some  special, and  ex- 
UaordinarV  cause,  and-and  isn't  going  to  be  the  regular  thing,  you 

^"lotI  Charles  delivered  this,  tor  him.  unprecedentedly  long  speech 
with  an  earnestness  ot  manner  that  inspired  lespect  \\^iile  his  tone 
w  ,s  af  once  manly  md  atreclionate.  Some  of  the  best  qualities  of 
rh^Eirsh  na turi  appeared  in  the  sim,^e  and  straightforward  can- 
dor the  delicacy  ot  feeling,  the  deep  affection  or  Uis  sister  and  re- 
gard for  his  friL'.id.aud  the  common-sense  whicu  even  ui  an  hour 
of  emotion  would  not  be  diverted  from  piactical  consider ations. 
fi,d>  B  anche  had  once  or  twice  looked  at  him  with  appeal  in  her 
eve-  but  he  went  bravely  on.  The  quaintness  o  the  tomi  was  due 
?o  the  natural  awkwardness  of  an  Englishman  in  expiesMug  deep 
and  serious  emotions,  and  it  Wiis  perfectly  innocent  o  any  humor- 
ous ntention.  though  it  brought  now  and  then,  in  spite  ot  he. self 
»  little  malicious  gleam  into  Lady  Blanche's  face,  bhe  could  not  help 
admirin"  her  brother's  manliness  and  sincerity,  albeit,  in  her  exist- 
fn^stae  of  sensibility,  she  thought  the  moment  was  inopportune 
fo?  raifng  such  a  delicate  question,  especially  when  the  subject  ot 
anxietv  had  hardly  yet  recovered  from  a  violent  shi)ck. 

'rbcVounglord^s  words,  however,  could  hardly  have  been  better 
cho"enl.«d  their  object  been  to  call  back  to  fertile  activ.t^v  all  the 
powere  0  George  Barton's  manhoo.l.  They  had  touched  the  ngh 
sprTng  and  his  spirit  responded  to  the  ca  1.  Uis  syslem  «aB  one  of 
no  ordinary  temper,  lull  of  health  and  vigor,  and  sound  to  the  core 
with  h  t  soundness  which  is  inherited  from  a  slock  of  virtuous  and 
Siperite  progenitors,  and  is  inherent  in  u  bodv  a.d  soul  whose 
purity  has  been  cherished  as  an  inviolably  precious  element  of  their 
hature     Hence,  although,  in  that  awful  crisis,  the  forces  of  a  pow- 


X. 

y-day  evtnt— iu  a  very 
liuj;   it — now  is  there, 
in  lor  a  task  to  wliicU 
iiuucl,  or  UiL   rauiiuia 
v,  is  mere  cliild's  play, 
k— 1  don't  Wiiut  'o  (lis- 
yoii  iiov,  tlie  die  'a  cast, 
lliis,  we  niusl  all  iiiulio 
itered— he'll  cut  n.e  oil 
.  will  never  K^i  his  con- 
eai  George— candor  for 
I  to  my  sister.    She  is 
but  1  am  a  man,  and  1 
3  compromised  witliout 
n  to  l)i'  an  accessory  lie- 
treason  and  conspiracy 
be  satisfied  that  my  sis- 
m,  you  knew,  iu  whicli 
dangerous  to  allow  it  to 
I'orge;  you  know  what  1 
ince  of  e.\i)re3»ion,  you 
the  bush  with  delicate 
.  tliink  you  ought  to  try 
les,  whicli  we  liave  wit- 
i  to  some  special  and  ex- 
je  the  regular  tiling,  you 

recedentcdly  long  speech 
li  respect,  while  his  tone 
le  ot  the  best  qualities  of 
md  stiaiglittorward  cau- 
.ion  tor  iiis  sister  and  re- 
!  whicU,  even  iu  an  hour 
i)iactical  considerations. 
ii  him  with  appeal  iu  her 
uess  of  llie  toim  was  due 
limau  iu  expiesbiug  deep 
innocent  of  any  humor- 
then,  iu  spite  ol  lieisclf, 
face.  She  could  not  help 
erity,  albeit,  in  her  exist- 
iioineut  was  inopportune 
iallv  when  the  subject  ot 
iolent  shoclc. 

1  hardly  have  been  better 
i  to  fertile  activity  all  the 
ley  had  touched  the  rijiht 
His  system  was  one  of 
or,  and  sound  to  the  core 
m  a  stock  ot  virtuous  and 
u  bodv  a  jd  soul  whose 
precious  elemeut  of  their 
crisis,  the  forces  of  a  pow- 


A    ■WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


ion 


erful  mind  had  been  straiucd  to  their  utmost  tension,  though  it  liad 
prostrated  him  tor  a  time  to  an  extent  which,  for  most  men,  would 
have  demanded  a  long  process  of  recovery,  it  only  served  in  his  case 
to  test  and  prove  the  tempered  elasticit)'  of  his  lieing.  VVhi'O  to  this 
had  been  added  the  quickening  actior.  ot  that  snbtU?  and  notent 
elixir,  administered  by  Lady  Hlanohc  at  the  moment  when  his 
powers  were  failing  him,  it  was  no  miracle  that  his  nerves  had,  with 
wonderful  rapidity,  recovered  their  strength,  and  that  he  felt  liim- 
self  inspirited  with  a  fresh  renewal  ot  energy. 

He  did  not,  however,  respond  iinmeiliafely  to  Lord  Charles's  ap- 
peal, but  making  a  sign,  he  rose  from  the  sofa,  and  silently  took  a 
tew  turns  in  the  room.  Having  ascertained  that  he  could  rely  upon 
his  physical  strength,  he  excused  hiir.self,  and  retiring  for  a  tew 
minutes  presently  returned,  the  disorder  ot  his  dress  and  face 
arranged,  his  look  clear  and  calm,  his  manner  natural  and  com- 
pospd. 

Going  up  to  Lady  Blanche,  he  took  both  liei  hands,  and  gazed 
into  her  eyes. 

"  HliincJie,"  he  said,  "  you  came  to  me  just  now  as  an  angel  and 
minister  ot  gruce!  Now  look  into  my  eyes— tlie  windows  of  ray 
soul — and  tell  me  whether  you  can  catch  a  glimpse  of  any  of  those 
spirits  of  evil,  those  phantoms  ot  darkness  and  madness,  wliicli  yoii 
just  now  charmed  awny  by  the  spell  of  your  voice?  They  have  tied 
—  thank  Heaven  and  you— they  have  gone  forever!  Look  here, 
Blanche  "—he  put  his  arm  aroiind  her  and  drew  her  to  the  window 
— "  two  things  will  never  puss  from  my  memory:  one  is  the  tlirill 
ot  feeling  1  expefienced  wlien  you  pressed  my  poor  crazed  head 
against  your  heart;  the  other  is  tlie  song  ot  these  two  birds  which 
at  that  same  instant  suddenly  liroke  in  upon  my  ears  with  a  music 
of  ecstasy  and  joy.  Henceforth,  when  you  are  not  by  me,  they  will 
continue  the  encliantment;  their  voice  will  be  j'our  voice,  and"  their 
song  your  song." 

Tlie  two  birds,  glancing  for  a  moment  with  their  heads  on  one 
siile,  out  of  their  bright,  beaded  eyes,  as  it  startled  by  the  approacU 
of  the  young  couple,  while  they  seemed  to  listen  to  the  familiar  and 
musical  voice  of  their  master,  su.ideuly.stretclied  their  yellow  necks, 
opened  their  liills,  swelling  their  dowiiy  throats,  and  warbled  forth 
a  melody,  gay,  bright,  clear,  triumphant. 

"  See,'  he  said,  "  Blanelie,  they  are  at  home  with  you  already. 
They  are  singing  the  pscan  of  love's  victory,  though 'they  do  not 
know  how  great  and  wonderful  it  is. 

"  Now,  Charlie,"  he  said,  turuina  to  the  j'oung  lord,  but  still  hold- 
ing Hlanche's  hiTnd  in  his  own,  "  1  am  ready  to  answer  you.  1  am 
not  mad,  most  noble  Festus,  hut  speak  the  words  of  soberness  and 
truth.  Tell  me,  11  jou  had  seen  your  mother — whose  love  and  charm 
you  still  remeinlieV — as  1  have  to-day  seen  mine,  if  you  had  looked 
upon  the  wrecii  of  that  which  had  always  been  iii  your  eyes  the 
type  ot  comeliness  nnd  perfection,  the  emiiodinient  ot  all  tliat  whs 
lovable  and  good,  and  you  had  known  that  the  ruin  which  shocked 
you  to  the  marrow  of  your  bones  hod  lieen  wrought,  not  by  any 
ordinary  dispensation  of  fate  or  chance  of  lite,  but  through  the  cal- 
culated and  deliherate  wickedness  of  villains  whose  identity  you 
were  certain  ot,  but  whose  guilt  it  was  not  possible  for  you  to  prove 


soo 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


without  briufilui:  trouble  ami  shame  upon  some  you  respecled  ami 
Wrt  what  wouhl  have  been  the  coudiliou  of  your  nnna?  Do  you 
Ihin  •  vHUCO.^ia  remain  cool  anil  collected?  Do  you  believe  you 
couia  G.  ?oS  mind  clearV  Do  you  Imaglue  you  could  reason 
wltli  the  calmness  of  a  mathematician  V 

^%i?Sm  'llatn!  mrishouia  ever  have  to  endure  such  an 
expeSclMts  you  paint  'so  vividly.     1  sliould  lake  a  hansom  at  ..ncc 

*",'''?^{^;.nSc"t?MencSe;;."'Hy"as  Barton  spoke.  Her  curi- 
oslU  was  c£l  iv  be  .^ortnnt  ad'missions  invol'ved  in  his  words. 
W hmrflU  he  siispect  of  his  lather's  murder?  Who  were  the 
"^''''"  ,',L!i,rT^rnr^ctedaiid  loved,  and  on  whom,  he  said,  trouble 
ITZl^^ZScCli'X.  Kuiltof  his  father's  murderers  to 
?      sname  in  Mil.  remark,  but  her  clear,   active  mind 

Sisinglfed'in  ^^lle  Zrt  to  form  some  hypothesis  out  of  these 

""i?wifr'co2tinucrt  Geor^-e  Barton,  "  that- superadded,  remem- 
ber to  nv  Kriet  over  my  poor  father's  fate,  for  there  is  not  the 
Sht^s  "foub  now  that  he  has  been  foully  murdered-was  mur- 
flS  in  hVc  iciis  in  that  horrible  mani.er-that  is  my  esper  euce. 
You  can  not  hen.  be  surprised  if  1  had  an  hour  of  a.^ony  and  even 
ff  adness  But  as  1  hold  this  hand  in  mine,  and  as  1  hope  to  live 
nnd  d?e  in  the  happiness  of  your  sister's  love.  1  give  you  the  solenin 
asMifance  that  1  do  not  believe  it  possible  that  such  a  tit  of  weak- 
SeVs  can  ever  coine  again.  In  that  brief  hour  1  seein  to  have  en- 
nuredai^d  outlived  Idl  possible  sorrows,  all  possible  agonies,  all 
Sble  tortures  of  the  soul;  and  now  1  am  a  new  man,  strong  m 
?heCe  o  aving  some  day  at  my  side  the  loving  spin  that  came 
andSm;  out  of  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  Death!" 

He  pressed  her  hand  to  his  heart,  and  looked  at  Lord  Charles 
with  the  iilow  of  sincerity  and  confidence  in  his  eyes. 

' ' B.rton  '■  said  the  young  lord,  much  moved,  '  1  believe  you- 
and  1  S  vom  e.xplanation-j"st  like  ymi-you're  as  eloquent  as 
in.lon  or  Gladstone,  but  not  ijuite  so  dilluse-aecounls,  to  some 
exteu  for  the  sla^e  in  which  we  found  you.  But  we  must  talk  o 
?hit  aiain  Ve  must  insisl-eh,  Blanche? -on  your  permitting  us 
To  sha?evour  anxieties.  :*lany  shoulders  make  a  light  hurden,  ana 
ovS  vmi^a  en'  an  Alias.  However,  there's  no  time  to  discuss  that 
now  ^  And  then  we've  got  to  consider  what's  to  be  done  about  you 
r  #n.Vi  r.i  sooner  have  cut  my  hand  oil  that  have  allowed 
Blanch?'ocoineo?he  top  of  those  stairs  if  I'd  known  what  was  in 
Sorefor  us'  But-there  you  see-its  just  ns  o  d-Mouncey  always 
lod  to  sav  alter  he'd  got  awfully  drunk  and  hit  a  proctor  at  Ox- 
ford -FhV  devil  was  in  it;'  and  so-l'm-1  m  awfully  glad,  old 
f e  low  •  1  really  don't  think  there's  a  better  fellow  living. 

imUhe  young  lord  grasped  George's  hand  with  some  emotion, 
while  T  adj'  Blanche  rewarded  her  brother  with  a  kiss, 
i-ady  Blanche,  rapidly  putting  on  her  bonnet  and  gloves,  turned 

'""  "tSVbad  b"'o  alone  to  M.S.  Barton,  if  you  will  intrust 
xne  with  Se  mSon.  George?  1  may  say  that  1  have  obtained  your 
approval  of  her  loiuiug  home  with  me,  may  1  not? 


X. 

loine  j'ou  respected  and 
)f  your  niiiul?  Do  you 
;  "Do  you  believe  you 
igiue  you  could  reaaou 


mve  to  endure  such  an 
1  take  a  bausoui  al  once 

irton  spoke.  Her  curi- 
is  involved  in  bis  words, 
urder?    Wbo  were  tbe 

I  wliom,  he  said,  trouble 
is  fiithei's  murderers  to 
'.  her  clear,   active  mind 

bypotliesis  out  ot  these 

al— superudded,  remeni- 
ate,  tor  there  is  not  the 
ly  murdered— was  mur- 
-that  is  my  experieuce. 
hour  of  asjouy  and  even 
e,  and  as  1  hope  to  live 
e,  1  give  you  the  solemn 
bat  such  a  fit  of  weak- 
lour  1  seem  to  have  en- 
all  possible  agonies,  all 
n  a  new  man,  strong  in 
le  loviog  spirit  that  came 
,wot  Death!" 
looked  at  Lord  Charles 
n  his  eyes. 

iioved,  "  1  believe  you— 
>,i_jou're  as  eloquent  as 

II  use —accounts,  to  some 
u.  But  we  must  talk  of 
V— on  your  permitting  us 
make  ti  light  l)urden,  ana 
;'8  no  time  to  discuss  that 
at's  to  be  done  aboui  you 
u)d  oil  that  have  allowed 
if  I'd  known  wliat  was  in 
ist  lis  old'Mouucey  always 

and  hit  a  proctor  at  Ux- 
11— I'm  awfully  glad,  old 
ir  fellow  living." 
liand  with  some  emotion, 

with  a  kiss, 
•onnet  and  gloves,  turned 

Barton,  if  you  will  intrust 
that  1  have  obtained  your 
ay  1  not?" 


A    WKEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


301 


George  Burton  read  a  meaning  in  her  eye  which  escaped  Lord 
C'huiles,  and  assented,  lie  could  not  at  tliat  moment  )ia\  u  borno 
the  excitement  of  an  interview  witli  his  mother.  At  Lord  f'hnrlcs'a 
suggestion,  he  and  Ilarlon  were  to  dine  in  the  city  together,  and 
arrive  at  Portmaii  fjciuare  later  in  the  evening. 

"  And  one  thing  more,"  she  said,  before  she  went,  as  she  gavo 
him  her  hand,  with  a  bliihh  in  lier  cheel<;  "  something  1  hud  nearly 
forgotten.  Aunt  Dura  charged  me  to  tell  you  that  Tilbury  wants 
earnestly  to  see  you;  and  she  begs  you  will  go  to-morrow  about 
twelve,  antl  be  sure  not  to  let  anything  prevent  you,  for  my  poor 
cousin's  state  does  not  admit  of  crossing  any  of  his  fancies.  Now, 
mind,  slio  counts  on  you— and  so  do  1 !" 

"  Ah!"  groaned  Lord  Charles;  "  then,  you  may  depend  tipon  it, 
he'll  go." 

As  the  young  lord  escorted  his  sister  to  the  carriage,  for  ho  per- 
emptorily refused  to  allow  Barton  to  h ave  his cliambers.  bethought, 
and  said  to  himself,  tliut  he  had  never  seen  her  look  more  beautiful. 
A  sudden  ripeness  seemed  to  have  mellowed  her  charms;  her  face 
was  grave,  but  glowing  with  tbe  warndli  of  love;  and  in  the  In- 
tensllled  brightness  imd  firmness  of  her  glance  be  read  not  only  a 
sweet,  solemn  happiness,  but  ttie  ardor  of  a  great  resolve. 

"  Egad!"  he  murmured,  as  he  returned  upstairs,  "  it  anyone  can 
manage  it,  she  will— but  it  will  require  a  miracle.  The  only  chanco 
1  see  foi  them  is  that  the  earl  should  get  converted  by  Spurgeon  or 
General  Booth,  and  renounce  the  pomps  and  vanities  of  this  wicked 
world,  which  might  induce  him  to  eat  humble  pie.  "Either  that,  or 
George's  turning  out  to  tie  the  grandson  of  a  marquis,  with  the 
wealth  of  a  Monte  Cristo.  Ouida,  now,  could  arrange  it  all  to  a 
marvel!  But  confound  it  all,  as  1  said  just  now,  uotning  more  im- 
probable was  ever  conceived  of  in  a  novel  than  what  has  Happened; 
and  now  that  we  are  launched  on  a  career  ot  romance,  the  impossi- 
ble may  come  to  topthe  improbable  and  prove  theold  gibe  that  Irulh 
is  stranger  than  Action." 

When,  two  minutes  later.  Lady  Blanche  entered  the  darkened 
parlor  occupied  by  Jlrs.  Barton  at  the  Salisbury  Hotel,  she  was  in- 
deed shocked  at  the  ruin  wrought  in  Her  friend.  Prepared  by 
George's  graphic  desciiption,  and  more  graphic  sorrow,  for  a  great 
change,  the  reality  txceeded  all  her  anticipations.  The  poorwidow, 
in  deep  mourning,  lay  on  the  sofa  in  a  nerveless  attitude,  her  hair, 
now  quite  white,  coifed  under  a  widow's  cap,  her  pleasing,  comely 
face,  looking  as  if  a  withering  blight  had  passed  over  it,  and  those 
fine  brown  eyes,  which  used  j  be  so  vivacious,  become  sunken  and 
dim.  She  was  so  irrecognizable  that  for  a  moment  Lady  Blanche 
was  almost  going  to  excuse  herself  and  retire,  when  the  melancholy 
figure  motioned  to  her  to  stay,  and  covering  its  face  with  a  band- 
kerchief,  lield  out  a  band  that  looked  white  and  thin  as  that  ot  a 
specter.  The  thoughts  and  sensations  of  the  young  beauty,  after 
herself  passing  months  in  the  brilliant  ga}'eties  of  the  season  as  an 
object  of  general  admiration  and  envy,  when  brought  suddenly  face 
to  "face  witli  this  sad  ruin  of  a  fine  woman  wete  profoundly  painful. 
For  a  moment  she  seemed  glued  to  the  floor.  She  had  to  summon 
all  her  forces  to  enable  her  to  avoid  a  cry  of  astonishment,  and  to 


»09 


A    AVEKK     OF    PASSTOX. 


1^ 


stran  4  thr  "l  through  the  h.nguUl  heart  of  the  wKlow. 

^'^^^^.:^t^}^S^ZS^^a.e.    1  I'ave  seen  hin,'. 
1  bave  just  come  ftom  him?  and-loar  Mrs.  barton-clear  mother. 

'  Thi'Aime^t'w!" Su'e  who  .-as  claspe.l  with  nervous  joy  to  the 
earth,  and  sorrow  and  crying  wore  done  away. 


CHAPTER  XVll. 

DRAWING     THE     STIKO. 

'  ^r^'j^^s'^aiie'Sirs^s^e'^iis;^ 

KSln^^frrinTe^yS  whiclj  his  ^o-gt^^l--^^'^'  ^« 
U«  a.  y'et  by  - -.T^J-fl^l^  Sl^n^^to'  i  "i.f^^^^^^^  oppor- 

■§MMmmm 


A    WEEK    or    PASSIOX. 


203 


ahnttere(J  ami  broken- 
t  ot  allcclionntc  solid- 
L'lt-commnml  and  step- 
sseil  tliL-  Imuil  extended 

licr  hc-.d  Jind  tried  to 
^eelni,'  licr  dtoop,  Lndy 
lUciwing  the  sorrowful, 
md  ttided  cheek  of  the 
Ic  before  the  sultering 
omen  wept  a  while  in 
ith  desperate  energy,  as 
strong,  young  heart,  ot 
ig,  there  was  sonietbing 

her  own  existenre. 
ex(iui8ite  tact,  sent  a 
.he  widow, 

meaning  that  ^Irs.  Bnr- 

nnd  blushing  the  tears 

of  the  young  girl.    The 

thing  in  the  word  which 

and  clearness,  sought  to 

ideed  was  biirslinff  with 
le  of  love  and  sympathy, 
rice  that  sounded  in  the 

1  me.  1  have  seen  him! 
rs.  barton— tlear  mother, 

;d  with  nervous  joy  to  the 
d1  a  new  lite,  and  toi  a 
f  heaven  had  come  upon 
ivay. 


II- 

[NO. 

rouse  his  uncle  from  the 
about  the  advisability  of 
foresight  bad  provided,  he 
up  the  game, 
to  his  hands  most  oppor- 
rc  ot  a  Russian  jjriuce  to 
)uilders,  who  sold  her  tor 
\tes.  Her  name  was  the 
s  Clyde  buili,  with  beautl- 
were  luxurious  and  hand- 
ay  trcm  memory  as  well  as 
ct  could  have  been  offered 
tlantic  in  this  superb  and 


conitorlable  craft.  But,  unhappily,  neither  of  the  inteuilir.i;  i>.i.s- 
scni:ers  wun  in  a  humoi  to  appreciate  the  a'sthtlic  aspects  ot  su(  li  a 
'•oyage. 

Cliarles  Pollard,  In  the  course  of  that  secret  life  of  pleasure  whicu 
he  had  led,  had  become  used  to  finding  himself  in  positions  wlitro 
evposiire  would  have  ruined  his  character  as  a  sober  and  trustworthy 
man  of  business.  Hence  he  was  cooler  than  his  uncle  in  this  crisi'i 
of  their  afTairs,  since  he  believed  the  earl  to  be  at  their  mercy,  iioi- 
withslan.ling  what  had  occurred,  and  the  only  two  pcoiilo  who 
knew  .'inything  ot  the  connection  of  tlie  Pollards  witii  the  crime 
were  Vales  ami  Scbultz,  the  latter  ot  whom  was  out  ot  the  country; 
so  that  the  nephew  wiis  for  putting  a  liold  face  on  thiufis  and  run- 
ning the  lisk  of  discovery.  Ele  hankereil  after  London  and  its  gay 
life;  he  shrunk  from  admitting  his  guilt,  as  he  would  do  by  Uight 
—  from  being  hunted  through  "the  civilized  world  by  Justice  with 
her  Ion;:  telegraphic  tentacles  and  her  conloundtd  arrangeuituts  lor 
extradition  ot  criminals,  besides,  denioialized  as  he  was  he  still 
had  an  aftection  fur  his  wile,  the  daughter  of  a  brewer  who  was  in 
Parliament,  and  his  two  children,  whom  he  would  be  obligtil  to 
leave  bihind  him,  tresh  victims  of  the  crime  which  had  poured  out 
its  streams  of  blood  aud  sorrow  iu  so  many  ilircctious.  .:\fler,  there- 
fore, lie  had  stirred  up  his  uncle  by  di^cussing  the  ways  aud  meuus 
of  making  good  their  escape  to  South  America,  he  turned  again  to 
the  subject  of  their  position,  and  endeavored  to  convince  his  senior 
that  whatever  suspicions  .Mr.  Soiitng  might  entertain,  it  was  quite 
impossible  for  him  to  lay  hands  on  any  evidence  ot  their  crimmal- 
ity. 

Bui  Joseph  Pollard's  intellect  was  now  f|uickeiied  by  peril,  and 
not  H  single  point  of  danger  escaped  his  keen  and  practiced  judg- 
ment.    H'i  said, 

"  You  fortret.  Charlie,  that  young  Barton  probably  knows  ot  the 
forgery  of  those  transteis.  1  reminded  you  of  that  before.  No 
doubt  he  knows  as  well  ot  the  deficiency  In  the  rent  account,  so 
that  it  will  be  imp()8sd)le  for  us  to  explain  the  restitution  we  made 
last  week,  and  wnich,  I  feiir,  will  turn  out  to  have  been  a  useless 
waste  of  resources.  The  evidence  as  to  both  these  facts  can  not  be 
suppressed.  With  two  such  chariros  against  iis  they  may  try  to  fix 
us  with  the  capital  crime;  and  bow  do'you  know  that  all' the  agents 
Yates  has  employed  will  be  trustworthy?  In  any  case,  1  won't  risk 
being  tried  tor  forgery  and  embezzlement.  Then,  again,  the  earl 
can  fix  us  for  all  that  money." 

"  He  will  never  do  that.  "We  have  only  to  threaten  to  tell  the 
countess  everything.  He  shrinks  from  that  as  he  would  from 
death." 

"  Possibly;  but  be  may  even  risk  her  knowing  all  in  order  to  gel 
his  money  back  or  punish  us.  He  has  a  masterly,  overl)eaiing 
spirit,  and  is  a  perfect  devil  when  he's  crossed.  1  judge  from  this 
letter  that  Sontag  has  seen  through  your  clever  trick  ol  reproducing 
the  papers,  and  doesn't  believe  they  were  lost.  That  sets  him  at 
guessing  what  object  we  had  in  the  maneuver,  the  advertisement 
and  all  that.  Every  card  we  play  seems  to  be  trumped  as  soon  as  it 
is  on  the  table.    If  be  suspects  us  ot  one  thing  lie  will  aoou  begia 


S04 


A    "WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


»i 


to  suspect  us  of  another;  aud  remember  this,  we  don't  know  bow 
iimtb  tbcy  know." 

luu'\^Su■i' Poillr.1  strove  In  vain  to  sbfike  the  eldev  partueis 
nnnll  un  tliesl.  iXb,  in  which  he  was  so  accurate  und  so  un- 

%T  themiddle  of  their  discussion  n  knock  came  at  the  ^oor  and  a 
clerk  Immlea  in  a  Inter.  C'harle.  I'oHa:  \  after  a  glance  at  the  su- 
ncrHcript ion.  tore  open  the  envilDpe.  .i,i„  u  inoUv 

'•  \Veli."  he  said.  "  it  you  are  determined  to  go,  this  is  lucky. 
Alv  friend,  you  linow,  tlie  captain— " 
^"  i)_u  liitn  ••  wild  Mr.  Joseph,  with  a  shudder. 
••  Is  now  wa'itiu"  t(.r  me.     I  e  says  be  has  somethmu  important 
,„  pan,  u  nicali     1  I  ro miscd  to  give  him  the  balance  of  that  money 
oS       1  wi  Jio    "d  tell  hiu,'to  order  everytbin,  to  be  ready  lor 
ft  s  u'l     The  rendezvous  is  the  Three  Tuns,  at  Grayesend    .lose 
Sv   he  wate     w  1  e  e  1  will  have  the  captain  of  the  yacht  waiting  to 
TaCusofl    Yates  «as  to  have  met  me  there  this  evening  anyway. 
He  cauijbl  up  his  bat  to  so  to  rlement's  Inn. 
•'  Stay"-  said  the  uncle,  whose  tacullies  were  now  all  alive. 
"  Where  are  you  {;oing  to  meet  him?" 
"At  Clement's  Inn."  ,    ,      «.. 

"  Have  vou  ever  met  hmi  there  belorei; 

••  "ever^  But  be  Bays  in  bis  note  it  is  a  safe  place-  he  rooms  of 
a  f fiend  You  see  it  is  a  very  unsuspicious  address.  Had  Mr^ 
Charles  Known  what  was  the  fact,  that  in  the  chambets  referred  to 
ATr  or  •'  Ur  "  Scbultz  bad  beeiwconcealed  during  ins  latest  weeks 
h!  LoudotT  his  slaten^ent  would  have  been  conflrn.ed.  though  not  in 

'"^•ZdouS'til^niSss;  Charlie,  don't  you  go.  Af.er  that 
lettef  of  SonUiiT's.  and  the  visit  of  that  dreadful  luan.  1  f  o<.ld  lo 
ho  II  e  least  surprised  if  our  movements  were  being  watched.  Just 
fook  hirCl  arl  e  1  haven't  spoken  of  it  before."  He  turn.Kl  his 
Sr  round  toward  the  window  and  put  up  his  glasses.  The  room 
was  in"he  trout  of  the  mansion,  ..ne  of  those  noble  chambers  which 
we  deiVnc-a  I'V  Adam,  or  some  other  architect  of  the  Georgian 
e,a  with  windows  down  to  the  lloor.  "There,  he  said  to  is 
nephrw  "  yri'ave  sharp  eyes.  Keep  behind  l''«.c'"^  "''' «;'^ ,,  ,f ' 
?ook  out  and  see  if  there  isn't  a  snort,  seedy-looking  fellow  with  a 
8oU  black  teit  wide-awake  on.  slouching  about  anywhere 

••C  ••  said  Charles  Pollard,  turning  toward  his  uncle  with  a 
faceSch  had  pale.l  considerably.  "  He  is  some  distance  do«n, 
leaning  against  the  railings  of  the  garden. 

'•1  fhouL-bt  so.  1  nearly  ran  against  him  when  1  went  out  this 
morning  to"  Westminster.  When  !  came  back  1  happened  to  look 
S^t  of  window,  and  saw  him  standing  opposite,  it  seemed  o  Id 
bu  r8l7oud  not  have  thought  anymore  about  it  except  for  that 
el  ow's  v^il  and  his  insolent  manner.  We  are  being  wa  ched-a1 
ill  events  In  our  situation  we  must  act  as  ir  we  were.  Wr  le  a  note 
o  your  man  to  tell  him  to  meet  us  at  Gravesend,  and  to  telegraph 
nrrtprs  to  the  vacht  to  be  ready  to  sail  at  midnight. ,_     ,       , 

•'You  are  ri'S  Uncle  Joseph."  8«id  Charles  Pollard  as  he  went 
to  bis  room  to"  prepare  the  letter  lor  Captain  Yates.    His  manner 


g,  we  don't  know  bow 


ikc  Ihe  elilc!  partner's 
)  uccuriile  untl  so  uii- 

■ame  at  the  tloor,  nnd  a 
tier  a  glance  at  llie  su- 

id  lo  go,  this  is  lucky. 

udder. 

IB  sometliinu  iniporlant 

B  l)iiltiucc  of  that  money 

ef.Ytliiii>;  to  be  ready  lor 

lis',  at  Gravesend,  elosu 

ol  the  yacbt  wuiling  to 

!  this  evening  anyway." 

Inn. 

Bs  were  now  all  alive. 


safe  place— Ibe  rooms  of 
iU8  address."  Had  Mr. 
be  chtiuibets  referred  to 
(luring  his  latest  weeks 
;onflrnied,  tbougb  not  in 

n't  you  go.  After  Ibat 
;adtul  man,  1  should  not 
ire  bLing  watched.  Just 
before."  lie  turned  his 
->  his  glasses.  The  room 
ise  noble  chambers  which 
icliitect  ot  the  Georcian 
'  There."  he  said  to  Ids 
liiud  tlie  curtain  and  just 
'dylooking  fellow  with  a 
^bout  anywhere." 
loward  his  uncle  with  a 
e  is  some  distance  down, 

im  when  1  went  out  this 
l)ack  1  happened  to  look 
pposite.  it  seemed  odd, 
!  about  it  except  for  that 
iVe  are  being  watched— at 
ir  we  were.  Write  a  note 
•avesend,  and  to  telegraph 
aidnight." 

liaries  Pollard,  as  he  went 
jtain  Yates.    His  manner 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


205 


was  soher  and  crestfiiHen.  The  sensation  ot  being  watclied  as  a 
crimiiml  by  detectives  can  hardly  fail  to  depress  tlm  most  Inioyaiit 
nature,  especially  when  there  is 'a  guiltv  coiisetence  within  it.  A 
man  nuist  feel  the  .jnildoor  yarning  and  not  far  oil  wliun  the  man- 
catchers  are  after  him. 

The  boy  who  hud  comu  witli  the  note  hud  lieen  directed  to  wait 
lor  an  unswer;  and  Cluirles  I'ollaid,  now  suspicious  of  every  one, 
sent  for  him  to  his  room,  ami  after  u  look  ul  his  lace,  whicli  told 
1dm  he  hud  betoic  him  ii  gallows-bird,  dressed  ns  a  lawyer's  boy, 
cautioned  him  to  get  away  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  kcej)  the  note 
out  of  sight. 

Tlie  youn.g  hopeful  wliispered  to  himself  something  like  "  Gran- 
ny," as  liis  (lurk,  wicked  eyes  leered  at  Mr.  diaries  in  a  knowing 
way.  Enforcing  his  caulio'n  with  hall  a  sovereign,  which  Ihe  youth 
with  a  wink  slipped  into  his  sock,  he  dismissed  him,  and  returned 
to  his  uncle's  room  just  us  Grayson,  whose  lace  was  very  red,  and 
who  spolie  tliickly  and  hurriedly,  announced  the  Earl  of  Selby. 
The  two  partners  only  had  time  to  exchange  a  glance  before  the 
peer  walke;l  into  the  t'ooin. 

Never  did  that  consummate  man  of  the  world  deploy  with  greater 
brilliancy  the  resources  of  his  wit  and  experience  (lian  in  this  daiing 
raid  into  the  enemies'  camp.  'Willi  the  most  excpilsite  ease  he  ad- 
vanced to  the  two  solicitors,  and  saluted  thein  with  that  mixture  of 
urbanity  and  condescension  against  which  it  is  impossible  for  men 
not  born  lo  the  manner  to  struggle;  wiiilc  lliey  read  in  tlie  cold 
glitter  of  his  gray  eye,  and  the  sardonic  smile  lurking  in  the  corners 
ot  his  moutli,  a  triumphant  sense  of  strength  which  was  calculated 
in  Itself  to  chill  and  depress  their  Bplrits.  There  was  a  certain  slift- 
ness  in  their  response  to  his  somewhat  patronizing  nllability  which 
proved  tlie  inferiority  of  their  diplomatic  capacity,  In  his  present 
Luinor  it  would  iiave  required  a  gentleman  of  the  highest  culture, 
and  one  nt  infinite  resource  txndjinesse,  to  match  the  peer. 

"  Good-morning,  genlleinen,''  lie  said;  "  1  am  lucky  in  finding 
you  both  togetlier— and  1  hope  disengaged— as  1  have  something 
important  to  say  lo  you." 

lie  took  Ihe  easiest  chair  he  could  And,  and  laid  his  bat  and  stick 
on  an  adjacent  table. 

"Your  lordship  is  none  too  soon,"  said  Mr.  Joseph  Pollard, 
bluntly,  "  to  explain  to  us,  as  we  hud  a  right  to  expect  you  would, 
the  serious  step  you  have  taken  without  consulting  us,  and,  1  must 
add,  in  direct  violation  of  the  common  understanding  between 
solicitor  and  client." 

"  Sin'-e  I  liad  tlie  pleasure  of  seeing  you  yesterday,"  replied  the 
earl,  w!ih  a  clinrming  assumption  of  naivete,  "  1  have  taken  several 
impuiiaut  steps,  Mr.  Pollard,  on  which  1  did  not  con.sider  it  neces- 
sary lo  consult  you.  Which  ot  them  is  It  that  has  come  to  your 
Knowledge?" 

"  The  particular  one  lo  which  1  nllude,"  said  Mr.  Pollard,  senior, 
"  is  one  which  has  procured  us  the  honor  of  this  communication 
from  the  cbief  of  the  Detective  Department— such  a  communication 
as  has  never,  during  the  long  history  of  this  house,  been  addressed 
to  it. "  He  held  out  the  letter  toward  the  earl,  who  was  within  arm's 
reach,  but  who  did  not  appear  lo  notice  it. 


m 


Me 


A    WKRK    OF    I'ASftlOS. 


V" 


'"•^TCTnroth^r  iuformntion,  estnbli.l.es  the  fact,     la  the.o 

r [SS-S^S'ninllJ^Si^e  K.;  power  in  .ringing 
^'Vlle^rSnot  rtlu::h«'r  excitement  in  his  chcei.,  not  a  trace  ot  It 
'^V'^IrS  '';rhS'wUhl"v.:X'advertisem«nt  ana  the  oij«rges 
a^rninSt  Mr    BTrtoD-l  expect  hefore  you  had  tal^en  any  action, 
eadi  Mr  Clmrles.  wili.  a  malicious  smile  on  his  tace. 

papers. "'    lie  glanced  sidewise  at  the  peer. 
Tlie  earl  started.  .,  „„")'• 

'"Tf.f  earl  noticed,  without  seeming  to  do  so.  the  malice  ot  Mr. 

Ltiu^'impoX/^hat'sucta  bulk'of  documen.s  as  that  could 
'%V"cirirPoll«rd  bit  his  lip.  and  his  partner's  eyes  tell,  but  the 
"S£S-^^^^aS^Srj;:jS;.-tone.asa 


il  tlie  etul. 

•  persisted  Air  PoUftrcl, 
riHl  i!i  lli<;  fnc" 
mud  to  wave  liarlc  tlic 
ler  would  l"-  addrcssul 
rsiiinds  lis  busiuess.  I 
they  wish  yon  to  uivc 
rtoii's  lati'si  iiiterviows 
1  assume  they  liave  in 
)  himsfU,  and  that  lii^. 
IV  loiiucr  Ilial  poor  duar 
tor  ruuniug  uway,  was 
CMS?"  .    , 

•e  llxed  on  Mr.  .looepli 
inifd  liis  filiinre  on  the 
nvc  peuetruted  and  ths- 

'a\  his  senses  and  given 
ck  to  llio  nerves  of  lUe 

on  was  murdered,"  3iiid 
rl  of  Tilbury  liad  made 

dies  the  fact,  lu  tlieso 
ffer  iu  my  name  a  largo 
rs  of  tliat  most  liorrihln 
uere  was  to  direct  you  to 
;now  1  iicvei  authorized, 
1  your  power  iu  bringing 

lis  cheek,  not  a  trace  of  it 

tiscraent  and  llie  charges 
liad  taken  any  action,' 
n  his  tace. 

ion,    "We  had  found  the 


ey  had  been  mislaid;  they 
am.    We  have  them  sate 

do  so,  the  malice  ot  Mr. 

!  earl;  and  glancluK  round 

re  in  that  Targe  bag— but 

documents  as  that  could 

partner's  eyes  tell,  but  the 

nv  li>rd." 

nd  tliough  the  tone  was  a 


A    WEKK    01'    l'A8.si()\. 


8o: 


little  exaggerated,  there  wua  no  doubt  Ids  hoiirt  went  with  It.  "  May 
1  a.sk  11  that  mortgage  is  ready  tor  signature?  1  should  like  to  have 
the  inidter  .settled  iil  once.    1  can  cvecule  it  now. 

••  it_ii_is  not  nady,  my  lord;  and  alter  the  manner  In  which 
you  have  aclid,  whlcli  api"iearn  to  be  iiuite  incon.slstcnl  with  any 
'furllirr  Irlenilly  rcliilionM  lielwcen  your  lonLship  and  onrselve.s,  you 
nill  liiinlly  be  (iurprised  it  we  feci  ourselves  iiound  to  decline  to 
rciuliT  vou  any  furtlieraMsistiince  in  these  nialter.-i.  AcliiiK  loi  tlie 
CounU'Hs  of  'IillMiry,  we  niiist  retpiest  you  at  once  to  n.ake  up  tlie 
sums  ;iilvaiK.'ed  you  on  tier  bcliall,  and  to  clear  her  interest  at  l.iiilou 
from  the  charge"  tliat  lies  uixin  it.  We  know  the  reiiuest  is  lueina- 
ture,  and  i)etliapH  ineouveuient,  but  we  arc  obliged  to  act  in  the  in- 
teresl  ot  our  client." 

In  delivering  liiis  speech  the  elder  Pollard  assumed  his  loudest 
and  inii«t  insolent  tone,  into  which  he  endeavored  to  introduce  a 
Dol<-  <d  tme  .saicasiu  and  signally  tailed. 

'Die  earl  smiled. 

"  <  )h:  "  he  said,  quietly,     "  \ou  have  forestalled  my  own  wishes 
and  iutiulions,  Mr.  Pollard,  in  the  most  gratifying  maimer:  and  ex 
peetui^'— and  even  ho|)iug— that  you  miiiiil  make  such  an  intimation 
to  me.  1  liave— also  without  consulting  you— taken  steps  to  provide 
Qgainst  tills  contingency." 

The  two  partners  stared  blankly  at  the  smiling,  imperturbable 
figure  before  liiem,  for  they  had  fully  expected  to  see  him  at  their 
feel.    Mr.  .losepli  Pollard  retorted, 

'  All  the  better,  my  lord,  for  we  intend  to  lay  the  whole  matter 
before  the  couctess  to-night."    He  was  playing  tlieir  last  card. 

"  Nay,  gentlemen,  1  am  sure  you  will  not  do  that,"  said  the  peer, 
smilinj;,  with  the  most  |)rovoking  coolness. 

"  We  shall  most  certainly!"  said  Mr,  Joseph  Pollard,  with  a 
stubborn  and  brutal  emplinsis. 

"  Utfore  you  contradict  me  so  rudely,"  said  the  earl,  with  a  cold, 
stern  inilection  of  voice,  and  a  look  tliat  made  the  senior  partner 
quail,  "  you  will  allow  me  to  set  forth  the  reasons  ot  my  confidence, 
la  the  ilrst  place,"  he  said,  taking  a  letter  from  his  pocket  and 
thiowing  it  carelessly  on  the  table,  on  which  Mr.  Pollard's  arm  was 
resting,   "  theie  is  n  letter  from  Mr.  Hackluyt— " 

'•  Mr.  Hackluyt:"  cried  the  two  partners  together,  with  visible 
uneasiness. 

"  Stating,"  continued  the  earl,  without  taking  any  notice  ot  the 
intenuption,  "  limt  he  is  prepared  and  intends  to-morrow  on  my 
behalf  to  take  up  my  obligations  and  pay  ofl  the  charges  at  the 
Coledonlan  Bank,  thus  releasing  my  sister's  mortgage,  which  will 
then  become  voi<l  and  of  no  effect.' 

"  The  original  is  in  our  hands,  howeverl"  Si  id  Mr.  Pollard,  with 
a  sinister  smile. 

'•  lie  also  slates  that  he  will  hand  you  £55,300  ot  United  States 
bonds  in  substitution  of  those  alleged  to  have  been  lost;  but  as 
you  admit  you  have  found  them,  that  will,  happily,  be  unneces- 
sary, and  1  now  believe  in  any  case  would  be  unsafe.  Ills  solicitors, 
Kno.\-,  Masterman  &  BuUen,  who  within  the  past  hour  have  become 
mine.  Rill  prepare  a  tiesh  mortgage  ot  my  Kensington  property  tor 
a  lar^e  amount,  and  to-morrow  will  present  you  an  order  to  hand 


m 


208 


A    WKKK    OF     I'AS.SIDX. 


ovor  lo  Ihom  nil  puper*  nml  «locimi( uls  nt  minn  wliUli  iiiv  lvin«  la 
your  posHi'HHloii,  imil  will  puy  ymi  ii  niiiii  wIiU  li  will  inori.'  timii  covur 
iiuv  cliilins  vomim  poMHlbly  Imvi!  ii^Mliist  int,'," 

Tho  iiHioniHhm.'iil  .mil  <hiijrrlii  ot  llic  purlmim  bcnimc  inoro  iimj 
moro  i!vUl.-rit  hn  uiicli  scnU-ncu  Icll  troin  llio  .'iirr^  lip«  In  cl.nr,  linn 
tones  Hlmrpciird  liv  n  Hiu'  Niircnsllc  ciiiplinsi-.  wliiili  lie  Uiu-w  so 
well  how  lo  Impiirl  lo  Ilium.  It  iip|H)iirc.l  timt  lliey  wuro  oven  to  be 
(lunifil  Iho  pli'«>*iire  ot  n  rovciini).  ,  .,      ,        i    r.  i 

The  imliiriil  l>nilftlilv  whicli  liiv  nt  tin-  bottom  of  Mr.  Joseph  I  ol- 
liir.1'8  niinire  l'oI  the  better  or  llie  worse  ol  lilni  iis  he  beciime  roii- 
BcloiiH  how  cleverly  the  pen  Imd  out;,'encriile(l  them  by  hl«  stinteglo 
murcii  In  the  renr. 

He  tried  on  u  little  loiigh  siitciism  ot  his  own,  but  It  wiis  ot  tho 
kind  which  Is  a  piirt  ot  the  vulKur  repertory  of  ltlllluj,'»i,'iite. 

"They  wont  L'et  them,"  he  said;  "  there  arc  ii  ^ood  many  ac- 
counts to  settle  befon-  vou  ^et  those  papers.  Sn  my  lord,  you  have 
been  to  Mr.  llucKluyl.  to  whom  we  introduced  you  behind  our 
backs?  Wo  shtiuhl  never  have  expecle<l  that  of  n  nobleman  or  any 
ono  else  pretendhiK  to  be  a  >:<'ntleman.  We  were  under  the  mores- 
8loD  that  we  were  deulinK  with  a  man  ot  honor,  or  we  should  have 
taken  care  lo  protect  ourselves." 

ir  a  tlusli  piissetl  swiftly  over  tho  pecr'scheek,  he  showed  no  other 
slirn  ot  aUL'er.  Ills  lip»  were  still  curved  in  a  smile,  but.  had  the 
two  men  laken  tho  pains  lo  uiork  it,  they  would  have  found  it  a 
very  tertiblo  ono. 

"  Forlunalely.  sir,"  he  said,  coolly,  "  1  had  ceased  to  he  under 
»nv  such  in.pression  in  reirard  to  eilhei  of  you,  and  1  have  acted  ac- 
cordinL'iy  and  1  can  iiardly  consent  to  accept  your  judgmeul  upon 
any  tpiestion  of  lionor.  I  naturally  took  slops  to  protect  myself 
nL'ainst  two  knaves  who  were  trying  to  luin  mo.  '  ,   .      ., 

noth  tlie  men  were  furious,  and  seemed  about  to  speak  togetlier, 
but  llie  earl  held  up  bis  hand  with  an  imperious  gesture,  and  his 
eyes  llaslied  lire. 

"Silencel"  ho  cried;   "do  you  dare  to  defend  yourselves?     I 
will  show  vou  that  1  do  not  speak  lightly,  or  condescend  tt)  mere 
vulgar  irritation.     1  speak  seriously.     Will  cither  of  you  venture  to 
deny  that  1  am  nddteMing  two  men-solicitors  of  the  High  C  ourt  of 
Justice-wlio  have  been  guilty  of  embezzling  r  vast  sum  of  money 
from  an  estate  intrusted  to  tlieir  hands-wiio  cons|)ired  together  to 
swindle  me  in  order  to  cover  up  tlieir  own  trauds.  and  who  forged 
my  name  to  transfers  ot  sharen?    1  know  it  ali-1  know  it  all-imd 
Ihave  pioot  enough  to  justify  immediate  action.     Nay.  more,   I 
•  have  now  a  clear  insiglit  into  your  devillsU  scliome.     ^  ou  eou  d 
easily  liave  raised  me  that  money  it  you  had  cliosen.  so  Mr.  liack- 
luvt  assures  me.  at  the  very  time  when  you  pretended  It  whs  not  to 
-  be  lound  on  any  termn.    1  understand  uow-unhappdy,  too  late— 
what  your  obiect  was.    You  coDCOcte<l  tliat  airaniroment  with  my 
sister  in  order  lo  involve  me  so  deeply  in  your  crimes  that  my  moulti 
might  be  shut,  my  eyes  closet!,  my  liiinds  tied  to  your  own  long- 
continue*!  trauds  and  robberies:  and  then,  1  believe  in  my  heoit, 
even  yesterday  you  would  have  made  me  the  accomplice  of  some 
other  iniquity  yet  to  be  disclosed.     IL.ppily,  your  machinations 


ii(>  wliU'li  iiK-  lyinu  ic 
I  will  more  thitii  covur 

•m  licriinic  more  iind 
rl'a  li|m  in  cK'iir,  linn 
,  whicli  lie  Iviu'w  (io 
they  were  oven  to  be 

m  of  Mr.  .loscpli  Pol- 
III  iiM  he  liL't'iimc  con- 
tlu!!ii  liy  hi*  striUcgio 

ni,  liiit  It  WHS  ot  llio 
f  Milliuj,'»Kiit<-'. 
!  lire  II  nood  iniiny  nc- 
Sn,  my  lord,  you  Imve 
ixil  you,  beiilml  our 
of  a  iioliloiniiii,  or  any 
ere  uiuUr  the  iinnres- 
jr,  or  we  should  uavo 

jk,  he  she  well  no  other 
ii  Buiile,  but,  had  the 
would  have  found  It  a 

id  ccaswl  to  be  under 
1,  and  1  have  acted  ac- 
l  your  judBUieul  upon 
ei)s  to  protect  niyselt 

110." 

out  to  speak  together, 
riou8  gesture,  and  his 

lefcnd  yourselves?  I 
or  condescend  to  mere 
Ither  of  voH  venture  to 
rsof  the 'High  Court  of 
;  R  vast  sum  of  money 
I  conspired  logi'ther  to 
rnuds,  and  who  forged 
all— 1  know  it  all— and 
[\clion.  Nay,  more,  1 
1  scheme.  You  could 
I  chosen,  so  Mr.  Hack- 
pretended  It  v'lis  not  to 
-unliappily,  too  late— 
airanuement  with  my 
r  crimes  that  my  moutb 
led  to  your  own  long- 
1  believe  in  my  heart, 
he  accomplice  of  some 
ily,  jour  machinalions 


A    WKEK    111'    l'.v.«*siON. 


«ot 


lot  you,  bill  I,  who  hold  the  kPV  ot  the  im^ 

Itif  yoiidiiiel" 


linv  iallr<l,  and  It  Is  tiol 
tlon:  atti'iiint  lo  st-i/e 

riie  piers  ••yi'M,  iio.v  cold  miil  stern,  (Ixed  Ihc  twti  niiii  ilor>, 
whole  pull'  faces  had  lengthened,  while  tlicy  sliiicd  at  him  '<htnlc 
and  Hlleiit,  their  undor-Jaws  dropped,  their  brt-alh  painfully  oonuHg 
and  Koliii{. 

The  curl  paused  a  moment.  Neither  of  llieni  tried  to  spi  nk.  Tlio 
blow  hilil  ciuslied  tlielll,  and  vile  iis  lliey  wire,  tlieir  pridti  would 
not  let  them  llitow  IheniH'lvi'S  at  liU  feel'iind  plead  for  mercy. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Pollard,"  siiid  i|io  peer,  ii(ldrc*sing  the  elder,  "do 
you  repent  \our  threat  ot  sendinu  Inl'orinalion  to  the  roiiniess  to- 
niglit?  I  nlecs  you  ^ivi!  me  your  word  that  you  will  kce|>  silent  oa 
tliat  matter,  and  hand  over  thoKC  papers  without  any  lurtlicr 
tiouble,  I  will  send  for  a  pulicemau  and  give  you  into  euDlody  iiu* 
nii'dtately." 

Uoth  the  men  shrunk  before  the  earl's  eyes,  and  a  cold  sldver 
seemeil  to  pass  llirougii  them  at  these  words.  They  knew  the  peer  to 
beipille  capable  ol  execullnir  his  llireal;  and  liie  very  lilea  of  heing 
within  tliu  iron  jjrlp  ot  the  law,  on  wlialev(;r  charge,  completely 
fri^'hlened  and  subdued  them,  with  that  horrible  sense  of  guiltinesi 
which  WHS  locked  up  in  llieir  breiists.  Adieu  tlie  "  Vera  "  and  uU 
chance  ot  escape,  if  the  enrl  were  not  iippeasedl 

"  1  don't  know  wliul  your  lordBliip  means  by  using  such  Inriguago 
to  us,"  said  .loseph  Pollard,  with  a  cowed,  sullen  air,  very  dilleieut 
from  tliat  hu  had  lieen  iiileclliig.  "  liul  we  liave  no  desire  to  part 
with  your  lordship  on  any  but  amicable  terms.  Ot  emrse,  it  yoii 
don't  wish  it,  nothing  shall  l)e  inliniated  to  the  countess,  and  we  will 
carry  out  your  lordship's  instructions  as  to  your  papers  to-norrow." 

Tlie  peer  saw  tliat  it  went  sorely  against  the  lle.sli  tor  the  elder 
partner  to  say  this  and  the  younger  to  assent  to  it;  liut  his  jrlnnce  did 
not  for  one  moment  rcla.x  its  sternness,  while  a  smile  of  contempt 
was  on  bis  lips. 

"  U  is  at  least  as  well,"  ho  said,  riling,  "  that  we  should  under- 
stand each  other.  You  have  grossly  deceived  mo,  and  villainously 
wronge<l  mo.  You  have  been  tlie  means  ot  drawing  me  into  a  falsa 
and  ignoble  position.  It  you  tiiouL'ht  that  that  would  give  you  a 
control  over  me  you  were  egregiously  mistaken.  For  my  part,  how- 
ever, enormous  as  have  betsn  my  losses  by  you,  1  should  be  content 
to  endure  in  silence  the  Injuries  1  have  justly  sustained  through  my 
complicity  with  you,  unless  you  drove  me  to  take  action  lii  self- 
detense,  or  unless  1  found  myselt  obliged  in  justice  to  others  to 
bring  homo  to  you  the  coaseijueuces  ot  some  greater  crime.  1  wish 
you  good-day.  ' 

lie  turned  on  his  heel. 

Ktither  ot  the  partners  moved.  Tliey  were  crushed  by  his  last 
words,  by  his  manner,  by  his  audicious  superiority,  by  their  own 
weakness.  Mr.  Charles  Pollard  no  longer  accompanied  him  to  the 
stuiih  chatting  and  smiling.  The  proud  earl  opened  the  door  for 
himself,  and,  without  casting  a  glance  behind  him,  nodding,  how- 
ever, kindly  to  Mr.  Grayson,  who  really  was  in  a  very  iiiitlt  state  to 
Appreciate  the  compliment,  he  seemed  to  shaKe  the  dust  ott  Ids  feet 
as  he  went  from  the  threshold  which  he  would  never  cross  again. 
There  was  a  light  ot  triumph  in  his  eve.    Mr.  Hackiuyt  had  met 


SIO 


A    AVKKK    OF    PASSION. 


liim  with  a  readiness  fiir  hoyond  his  exptctations,  and  had  even  vol- 
tintcercil  to  toreslall  the  arraiist-'uients  lie  propost-d.  Thus,  tliough 
at  an  iniinenst*  saciitlce,  liri  liad  relieved  himself  of  a  j^real  loud. 

i^iill.  the  expiation  ot  his  sin  was  not  complete,  and  the  sword  ot 
Damocles  (juivered  menacingly  al)ove  liis  head. 

No  sooner  had  tlic  earl  turned  his  back  tlian  Mr.  Grayson,  ■^iiose 
stale  ot  unwonted  excitement  had  been  observed  by  his  younger 
tellow-cltrks  with  astonisliiucnt  and  some  raillery,  entered  the  room 
•whcio  his  prin'-ipa's  remained  in  a  condition  ot  impotent  rage, 
closed  the  door  behind  him,  and,  drawing  a  dirty  Handkerchief 
from  his  pocket,  began  to  blubber. 

"  \Vhat  on  earth  does  this  mean,  Jlr.  Grayson?"  cried  Mr.  Chailes 
Pollard,  auiirily,  turning  ui)on  llie  unhappy  clerk  the  pent-up  struum 
of  his  fury.  "  What  the  devil  is  the  matter  with  you— eh?  Why 
don  t  you  speak?" 

"  Oii-li-h!  Mr.  Ciiarles!"  sobbed  the  old  clerk  out  of  the  depths  of 
his  handkerchief. 

"Why,  you're  drunk,  sirl"  said  tlie  elder.  "Get  out  ot  the 
room  dir'^ctly,  biid  never  let  me  sec  your  face  again."' 

Instead  of  obeying  this  command,  (Jrayson  removed  the  damp 
Jinen,  and  disclosed  tlie  very  feature  wliich  had  become  the  object 
ot  iMr.  Pollard's  just  antipiithy,  red,  swollen,  running  with  tears, 
wliile  his  lips,  writhing  In  the  "vain  effort  to  articulate,  exhibited  the 
few  remaining  teeth  which  garnished  his  giims  in  a  ghastly  man- 
ner. He  caught  at  the  back  of  a  cliuir  to  keep  himself  from  swing- 
ing round  and  round.  Then,  pulling  himself  up,  he  managed  to 
ejaculate,  in  a  voice  that  ended  in  a  sort  of  leel)le,  broken  crow, 

"  Doon'l  turn  me  out,  sit!— most  important  in— infornuUion. 
Mr.  G — Gar'jelt's— shcoundibi,  gen — gen'lemen!" 

Joseph  Pollard  looked  at  him  sharply  tor  an  instant,  and,  nodding 
to  hiu  partner,  said, 

"  Sit  down,  Mr.  Grayson— sit  down.  You  seem  ill.  Pull  your 
wits  together,  man,  and  tell  us  what  you've  got  to  say  quickly." 

"  Mis-scr  .Josepli,"  cried  Grayson,  with  a  fresh  explosion  ot  grief, 
"  Mis-scr  Charles— sir — 'fraid,  sir — 1— I've  betrayed  you!" 

Now  both  the  partners  started,  and  eagerly  lobkecl  at  the  miser- 
able object  before  them. 

"  1— I  didn't  mean  to  do  it— sir— ge— gen'lemen!— oldest  clerk  in 
the  esh— es— esh— shlablishment— I  sure  you— aid — didn't  mean  to 
let  out  any  she— shecretsh— b--b— but   Garliett'sh- a  detective- 
Shot— Sbot—Shcotland  Yard— ask'Ml  me— help  to — dish— dishcoverl 
■where  barton  had  gone  to  wish — shose — sliose  papers —shtrict  con- 
fldensh — Mis-ser  Pollard— said— said  it  wash— on  your  account.  'Toldl 
him,    sir — Jlis-scr    P(illaid — o!d    contidenshul    clerk— wouldn't — I 
■wouldn't  dishclose  any  shecrcls  of   our   firm,  sir.     But— G — Gar-I 
bettsh—slil.v— fellow — ashked— me  quest — questions,   an'  1—1  toltl 
liim,  papersh — waslin't — couldn't  have  been  mishlaid— your  roon 
Misser  .loseph.      Went  to  lunsh  with  him— sir — and— and — veryl 
shly  fellow— b'lieve  he's  trying  to  make  you  'sponsible— murder- 
mu-u-ruer,  sir!" 

"  What?"  shouted  Mr.  Joseph  Pollard,  who  had  listened  witll 
Impatience  to  Mr.  Grayson's  sentences,  broken,  even  more  than  wa 


PASSION. 

i  expectations,  and  had  even  vol- 

iits  lie  proposed.     T  Inis,  IhougU 

overt  himself  of  a  '^vca\  loiul. 

■1  not  coniplele,  and  the  sword  01 

(VP  His  head. 

8  biicli  than  Mr.  Grayson,  -^hose 

been  observed  by  his  younger 
d  some  raillery,  entered  the  room 
.  a  condition  ol  impotent  rage, 

drawing  a  dirty  uaudlterchief 

Mr.  Grayson?"  cried  Mr.  C'liailes 
unliappy  clerli  tlie  pent-up  ^ireuui 
the  matter  with  you— eh?  Wliy 

the  old  clerk  out  of  the  depths  of 

[lid  the  elder.    "  Get  out  ot  the 
e  your  face  aiiaiu."' 
and,  (irayson  removed  the  damp 
ire  wliich  had  become  the  oljject 
red    swollen,  runninj;  with  tears, 
11  effort  to  articulate,  cxhil)ited  the 
ilied  his  jrums  in  a  ghastly  man- 
eliair  to  lieep  himself  from  swing- 
nlling  himself  up,  he  managed  to 
1  a  sort  of  feel)lc,  l)rol<en  crow, 
■most  important  in— information, 
en — gen'lemen!" 
iiarply  tor  an  instant,  and,  nodding 

down.     You  seem  ill.    Pnll  your 
hat  j'ou've  got  to  say  quickly." 
on,  witti  a  fiesh  explosion  of  grief, 
r— 1— I've  betrayed  you!" 
,  and  eagerly  lo'oked  at  tlie  miser- 

ii„ge— gen'lemen!— oldest  clerk  in 
— 1  'sure  vou— did— didn't  mean  to 

-b— but  "Garljelt'sh— a  detective— 
sk-'ul  me— help  to— dish— dishcover 
— shose— shose  papers -shtrict  con- 
said  it  wash- ou'vouraecount.  Told 
1  contideiishul  clerk -wouldn't- 
5  of  our  linn,  sir.  liut-G— Gar- 
me  (juesl— questions,  uu'  1—1  told 
it  have  been  mishlaid— your  room 
ish  with  him— sir— and— and— very 

to  make  you  'sponsible— murder— 

all  Pollard,  who  had  listened  with 
itences,  broken,  even  more  than  we 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


211 


have  indicated,  by  liiccoughs  and  sobs.  "  What  do  you  say,  Gray- 
son? Did  hi-  lell  vou  that?" 

"  No— no!"  said  Grnyson  shaking  his  Uead  from  side  to  side, 
and,  having  once  set  it  going,  like  tliat  of  a  crockery  mandarin, 
finding  the"  greatest  difticuUv  in  llie  world  in  stopping  it  again. 
"  He  did— din't  say  sho— shay  so— but— 1— see  winit  he  s  driving 
at- and  oil!  geu'leiueu— Mr.  Joseph— Mr.  Charles— I'm  very  sorry— 
gave  him  a  losU— a  Mot  of  in-inlorumtlon- 'traid  I've  done 
wroui: — " 

"  "i'ou  infernal  fooi!"  said  :Mr.  Charles  Pollard;  "you  deserve  to 
have  vour  head  knocked  olt  with  a  poker;"  and,  that  being  ihe 
only  visible  weapon  at  hand,  31t.  Charles  looked  us  it  he  really 
were  tempted  to  picli  it  up  and  use  it.  "  Tell  us  what  you've  told 
him." 

"  Slav,  Charlie,"  whispered  tlie  elder  Pollard.  "  remember  this  is 
a  matter  ot  life  and  death  torus,  Let  me  niiinage  him."  And, 
goini:  across  the  room  to  old  Grayson,  who  was  l)eginuing  to  be 
soberea  a  little  by  excitement  and  the  awakening  of  his  conscience 
to  the  breach  of  duty  he  had  committed,  he  gradually  extracted  from 
liim  the  whole  story  of  Mr.  Garliett's  nianeuve:-.  and  ot  the  infor- 
mation Mr.  Gniyson  had  imparted.  It  appeared  tliat,  before  tho 
powerful  stimulant  lie  had  taken  had  begun  to  operate,  Mr.  Gray- 
son's suspicions  had  been  awakened  by  one  or  two  questions  that 
Mr.  Garbett,  in  tlie  keen  ardor  of  his  bloodhound  chase,  lind  put  to 
him,  for  Grayson  was  by  no  means  deficient  in  a  certain  lawyer-like 
sharpness;  and  when  he  returned  to  the  office,  and  tlie  fiery  sherry 
began  to  develop  its  strength,  his  brain,  in  its  superheated  stale, 
suddenly  conceived  the  idm  that  Mi.  Garbett  was  tryinsr  to  fix  a 
crime  on  tlie  solicitors,  whom  he,  Grayson,  had  served  for  over 
thirty  rears— tntiier  and  son— and  so  ho  had  decided  to  make  a  clean 
breast  "of  it.  There  was  certainly  something  plienonieiial  in  the  fact 
that  Mr.  Giirl)ett's  (as  he  thnughl.  guarded)  questions  should  have 
suggested  such  an  idea  to  Grayson  drunk  wliich  probably  would  not 
have  occurred  to  Grayson  sober,  and  I  here  really  had  been  very  little 
said  on  whici>  „o  build  his  susi)iclons;  but  there  was  quite  enough 
to  alarm  na-n  already  on  the  rjnivive,  who,  moreover,  were  begin- 
ning to  feel  that  depressing  sensation  that  the  Fates  are  hunting 
them,  which  enfeebles  all  the  forces,  and  especially  paralyzes  liope. 
They  speedily  turned  poor  Grayson  out  of  tlie  room,  sending  him 
home  in  a  cat  to  prevent  suspicii.u,  with  a  mild  reproof,  and  began 
rapidly  to  make  Iheir  preparations  for  evading  the  net  whicli  tlieir 
fears  and  the  incidents  of  the  day  only  too  clearly  showed  was  being 
drawn  around  them. 


CHAPTER  XVlll. 

THE  TRIUMPn  OF  LOVE   AND  THE  TKIUMPH  OF  DUTY. 

When  Latly  Blanche  and  Mrs.  Barton  reached  the  mansion  in 
Portman  Square  eight  o'clock  had  just  struck,  but  the  ear!  liad 
ordered  dinner  to  be  delayed  for  half  an  hour.  He  was  feverish  and 
disquieted  at  Iheir  non-appearance.  The  day  bad  been  for  him,  like 
tlie  day  before,  one  of  trying  emotions.     He  had  succeeded  beyond 


I? 


21-2 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSIOX. 


,,„.  :„  ,i,at  Biruen-lc  to  keep  Ills  honor,  outwnrdlr-nt 

his  expectntu  ns  in  Uia.  s;^"?-'^  j      vaiiMuisliea  ami  boutul  at  his 

lest,  ""'?''"";''  „,.Jnw  Sit  he  <?oul  be  able  to  say  that  he  had 
**"'•,  ^'M/fauir^,ota7aru.?c  unles^vas  conceine.l.  f..ul  that  he 
repaired  hm  fault  so  lar  as  '"^ J^  ""  „,.,.,:«„„  tor  ho  lueunt  to  bear 
hart  proved  >'»t'-«P''V?"t'lVLtwrviS  to  their  own  oonsciet.ces. 

vioUins  "t  1  « f«»K»-    ^1^  X" irsl  .ignillcaut  aol  ol  thai  cspiuon; 

""£*;'  ^-  1  ™i.!M,  T  Rflv  Blanche  had  ndniiuistered  to  the  paor 

when  all  things  IwcomL  equal !>■  pride  or  hope;  when 

up  to  ««  P'«:,«:^,'}  '"%°J„3'^^8^  t°.e  vo  d  creatert^by  the  loss  of  some 
"'^  ^wnh^tt  aLSn^^^^^  "'^^  vacuum  to  be 

Euf^Tv  «nl  «  iCuuS  com^  But  here,  in  the  midnight  of  an 

filled  hy  any  substiuitett  comiot.  „  ^     j^,,  ^  luminous 

utterly  hopcess  f"""J!' "f,,fi;\,,e  „,^^^^^  and  therefore  most 

that,  terr  oie  as  w u»  perform,  hopes  to  cherish,  a  future  that 

S  be  Lwe  y  mTtiat'stSli  came  by  testing  and  that  only 
must  oe  uiiivcij         '     .  ,„  ,,.j.,i      aim  fiplirniplv  need  the  painful 


Is  honor,  outwrn-dlynt 
sheU  ami  bomul  at  his 
able  to  say  thai  he  hud 
concerned,  r..iil  thai  he 
»,  tor  ho  meunl  to  bear 
their  cvn  oonscieiices. 
ige  iu  the  lighlncbS  ot 
!  expiation  ilue  to  other 
a  to  his  house,  lie  liail 
It  act  of  that  expiation ; 
envoy  extraordinary  of 
ied sensibility,  attached 

I  he  endeavored  to  calm 
!  Boinloir  where  he  was 
!  over  a  pile  ol  evening 
)n  aFloientine  table  he- 
lulil  he  had  taken  Mrs. 
p  his  voice  and  manner, 
bwever  short  a  time,  he 
I's  integrity.  But  even 
the  bitter  cup  ot  repent- 

ulniiuislerea  to  the  paor 
jrtully  inspiriting  effect 
iband,  she  had  gained  a 
■  must  be  at  its  last  gasp 
when  the  soul  can  wake  " 
or  pride  or  hope ;  when 
ated  by  the  loss  of  some 
!h  of  that  vacuum  to  be 
•e,  in  the  midnight  of  an 
filled  with  a  luminous 
ecret,  and  therefore  most 
dy  Blanche,  the  proudest 

II  life,  loved  the  son  who 
's  eye.  She  did  not  think 
rh,  dominating  spirit  her 
It  that  whatever  Blanche 
leed  the  young  lady  took 
ike  a  cliild.  She  told  her 
ruck  her  down,  the  noble 
I  to  cherish,  a  future  that 

by  testing  and  that  only 
ilicaiely  used  the  painful 
i-f  upon  the  son's  mind  to 
js,  and  rouse  her  to  the 
s,  by  exciting  all  the  beat 
ged  to  revive,  gently  and 
ntaci  ot  her  own  vigorous 
enumbed  fibers  of  the  tro- 
lysterious  humanity  is  the 

0  imp.ilpable,  so  spiritual, 

1  system,  which  no  apothe- 


A    ^VEEK    OF    I'AS.SIOX. 


S18 


caty's  medicine  can  affect,  will  be  revived  and  healed  by  a  word, 
nn  idea,  a  note  of  music,  the  voice  of  the  presence  of  love." 

To  Mrs.  Barton  as  to  her  son  the  gentle  ministry  of  Lady  Blanche 
had  brought  a  spiritual  elixir.  Her  eye  had  bfighttned.  and  her 
tan^  had  put  on  a  more  calm,  resinned,  and  forcetul-looking  dig- 
nity ot  sorrow.  Strength  was  beginning  to  come  buck  at  the  touch 
of  hope, 

So  tliiit  by  the  time  she  reached  Portman  Siiuare.  Lady  Blanche, 
who  hiid  her  own  plan  of  action  sketched  out  in  her  mind,  and  was 
bent  on  executing  it  after  her  own  conceit,  had  succeeded  in  per- 
suadinir  the  widow  that  she  was  strong  enough  to  support  the  meeting 
with  the  earl  and  the  futigue  of  a  ritiiet  dinner,  although  at  first  she 
had  begged  to  be  allowed  to  spend  the  evening  alone  in  her  room. 
The  young  lady's  programme,  however,  was  arbilrnry,  and  was  based 
not  only  on  a  consideration  of  the  salutary  elTect  of  rousing  Mrs. 
Barton' from  her  torpor;  she  wished  to  strike,  and  strike  forcibly, 
some  chords  in  the  heart  ot  the  earl.  For  her  quick,  active  mind  had 
been  retlecting  upon  certain  words  which  had  escaped  the  lips  of 
George  Barton,  and  her  feminine  intuition  had  already  gone  a  long 
way  further  ahead  of  the  facts  with  which  she  was  acquainted  than 
■was  consistent  with  the  pn'ncipia  of  Baconian  induction.  This 
young  but  cunning  diplomatist  remembered  that  as  yet  her  father 
had  no  knowledge  ot  the  devastation  wrought  on  Airs.  Barton's 
lace  and  figure  by  the  shook  she  had  sustained.  The  fatal  telegram 
tiom  Pollard  &  Pollard,  which  the  widow  had  shown  to  her,  aroused 
ber  indignation,  .ind  brought  a  Hush  ot  shame  to  her  check. 

She  could  not  believe  that  her  father  had  had  anything  to  do  with 
that  cruel  action — one  so  utterly  out  ot  harmony  with  the  old-tash- 
ioned  chivalry  ot  his  conduct,  especially  toward  women.  She 
guessed  that  he  had  not  even  heard  ot  it.  If  so,  why,  she  asked  her- 
self, with  an  astute  suspicion,  should  Pollard  »&  Pollard  have  sent 
such  a  heartless  message  without  her  father's  sanction?  Why  was 
it  that  the  earl  Lad  at  first  accepted  the  .solicitors'  theory,  credited  a 
dishonorable  libel  on  the  elder  Burton,  forbidden  any  communica- 
tion with  his  son;  and  now  repudiated  the  suspicion,  took  George 
Barton  into  close  confidence,  and  oflered  Mrs.  Barton  an  act  of  hos- 
pitality which  Lady  Blanche,  who  had  remarked  the  anxiety  he  felt 
about  it,  shrewdly  attributed  to  its  true  motive— reparation?  There- 
fore this  j'oung  lady,  with  a  diplomatic  indifference  which  one  can- 
not too  strongly  condemn,  as  to  the  feelings  of  the  parental  subject 
of  her  political  action,  had  designer!  a  surprise  tor  the  earl,  in  which 
she  hoped  herself  to  surprise  some  precious  indications  of  those  se- 
crets which  ho  and  Ge.orge  Barton— poor  masculine  mortals!— fond- 
ly imagined  they  could  keep  concealed  from  a  woman's  wit,  and 
that  woman  Lady  Blanche  Layton!  And  as  tor  poor  Mrs.  Barton, 
she  was  a  pawn,  or  a  queen,  or  anything  you  like  that  is  simply 
stationed  about  at  another's  will  in  this  cunning  game. 

In  accordance  with  her  plan,  Lady  Blanclie  did  not  go  to  her  father 
on  entering  the  house,  but  sending  him  a  message  that  dinner 
would  beserved  at  halt  past  eight,  and  that  Mrs.  Barton  would  be 
there,  she  hurried  the  good  lady  to  the  room  which  had  been  as- 
signed to  her,  next  to  Blanche's  own,  and  assisted  her  with  her  own 
hands  to  arrange  her  dress  and  hair,  which  the  young  girl  began  to 


nu 


A    WEEK    OF    rASSIOX. 


§i.. 


think  looked  very  l.eau.itunn  iu  silvory  whUe..^  Z'S^:^^ 

iililsgsisi 

^'  y  t  a  ™a  o"  two  he  evi,lenlly  struggled  for  utteruuec. 
"Mis   Biirlont  is  H  possib'.eV"  he  gasped  out.  • 
HI...  e  4^  "(Tui  e  nu  Hg-ny  in  his  tone,  but  he  stopped  short      T  e 

'^«^SS;''-'^S-Ked>^n|X^Sd.    ••  My  dear  Mrs.  Bar- 

'"?•  FoS%'oTiaX  What  have  you  done,  except  to  allow  your 
faith  10? ft  litUe  while  to  be  disturbed  by  appearances?  lUat-1 
have  already  forgiven. "  know-"  he  cried,  in  a  hoi- 

your  husband's  memory!" 


vliileiiess  over  tlic  sott, 
cliDosing  for  lierself  n 
without  any  other  oruii- 
:h  her  miilliet  had  liRcn 
■anx—lh^  jour  den  m'/i'tn 
1  Ivd  hei  to  the  boiuloir 
i  still  (lnylife'hl  withe  11', 
aiict!  of  which  was  suli- 
t  when  the  euvl  rose  iiml 
on  which  they  hiul  biiu 
igh  he  was  uol  remliiiLS 
liinii  bcyoiul  a  tlnrk  liu;- 
idow's  cup.     But  when 
1  WHS  just  about  to  opt-n 
le  knew  so  well  how  to 
en  gray  eye  lighted  up 
through  his  tramo,  ami 
;le{l  for  utterance. 

t  he  stopped  short      Tlie 
irise,  and  his  chivalrous 
lustbe.     lie  c'anced  for 
as  if  to  say,  "  Whv  did 
h  in  the  least.     Holding 
little  pressure  of  encour- 
ig  up  the  widow's  nerves 
ch  circumsiances  w(>nieu 
men.     Einotion  is  their 
th  more  quicldy  than  the 
1  feeling;  and  hence  they 
itimesevcn  with  t<K)  lalul, 
Barton  had  the  advantage 
surprise;  that  she  had  an- 
;r  because  he  had,  in  pci  - 
memory,  done  her  an  In- 
aiaiter— his  invitation  was 
welt  in  the  wromr.     Now 
a  said  sweetly,  wliile  she 
trhich  telt  icy  to  the  touch 
int  a  warm  fmgivencss, 
am  so  changed!    Sorrow 

ird.  "  My  dear  Mrs.  Bat- 
lone,  except  to  allow  your 
by  appearances?    I'liat— 1 

now—"  he  cried,  in  a  hoi- 
ching  him  from  under  her 
ng  he  was  going  to  say  in 
ring  his  tone,  he  cenlluued 
kupidily,  I  haye  wronged 


A    WKEK    Ol-     I'ASSIOX.  ^'lo 

"  Oh!"  said  Lady  Blanche  lo  herself.  "  thiit  is  not  wlmt  ho  was^ 
golnir  to  say."  She  felt  tor  the  fatal  teli'.v'rnni  which  was  In  her 
pocket,  andwas  templed  lo  draw  it  out  and  usk  him  to  deny  any 
tesponsibility  for  it,  l)ul  readvisiug  herself,  she  determined  to  hold 
it  over  tor  a  later  moment. 

"  1  ran  not  ]udge  you  harshly,  earl;  you  must  have  luid  grounds 
for  your  conduct.  It  w  as  those  who  misled  you  who  were  really  to 
blame." 

lie  shook  his  head.  He  could  not  tiust  himself  to  speak,  for  he 
was  perfectly  alive  to  the  danger,  in  this  moment  of  trouble  and 
surprise,  of  uttering  something  that  might  comjiromisu  liini.  The 
widow's  words  were  stabs,  and  sharp  ones.  AVhal  grounds  had  he 
bad?  ]Sone,  except  the  suggestions  of  two  base  scoundrels  to  whom 
Le  had  listened  only  too  readily,  because  his  judgment  and  gener- 
osity and  candor  had  all  been  warped  by  a  sciise  of  his  own  unliap- 
py  error.  And  what  was  contracting  his  heart  and  crtating  that 
strange  pallor  in  his  face  which  made  Lady  Blanche  just  then  regret 
that  she  had  ventured,  with  her  inexperience,  to  play  with  those  edged 
tools  of  passion,  which  only  n  few  master-hands  are  strong  ecougl;, 
or  cunning  enough,  to  wield?  What  was  deipening  the  wrinkles 
en  his  brow  and  causing  such  a  strange  light  in  his  eyes?  It  was 
the  feeling  that  these  terrible  ravages  of  grief  added  a  frightful 
Weight  to  the  alresidy  intolerable  burden  of  the  cousecjueuces  directly 
following  from  hisfirst  wrong  act.  But  lor  that,  would  Barton  be 
now  an  impalpable  corpse,  and  his  wife  a  shocking  wreck?  Yet  the 
joung  lady,  while  her  mind  was  puzzling  over  her  suspicions,  could 
not  help  ac)niring  the  dexterous  delicacy  of  her  father's  answer. 

"  You  must  not  be  too  good  to  me,"  he  ^aitJ,  gently,  as  he  took 
Mrs.  Barton's  hand  and  placed  it  on  his  arm  to  lead  her  to  the  din- 
ing-room. "  Permit  me  to  taste  some  ct  the  bitterness  of  regret,  it 
only  as  a  salutary  remedy  for  my  unpardonable  blunder." 

In  the  presence  of  the  servants  it  was,  happily,  impossible  to 
puisue  the  painful  subjects  which  weie  so  actively  occupying  their 
minds,  during  n  meal  which  was  of  necessity  a  mere  formal  and 
perfunctory  parade,  for  the  emotions  they  had  experienced  were  not 
of  those  which  sharijen  appetite.  The  earl  was  preoccupied  and 
gloonu'.  Every  now  and  then  he  stole  a  melancholy  glance  at  the 
nltere(l  face  of  his  guest.  The  silveiy  hair  seemed  to  hira  like  a 
flame  which  burned  into  his  heart.  When  dinner  was  ended  Mrs. 
Baiton  i^rayed  to  be  allowed  lo  retire.  He  gave  her  his  arm,  and 
conducted  her  to  the  door  of  her  room. 

"  1  shall  see  my  godson  to-night,"  lie  said.  "  It  may  be  a  com- 
fort to  you  to  know  that  at  this  moment  he  is  of  incalculable  service 
to  me — that  1  could  soonei  afiford  to  do  without  my  right  hand— for 
It  has  turned  out  providentially  that  he  knows  all  that  his  father 
knew  of  those  matters  of  vital  importance  which  brought  him  to 
London.  We  are  now  engaged  together  in  the  task  of  vindicating 
justice  and  the  memory  of  the  dead.  It  is  a  painful  duty  with 
which  1  charge  myself  on  your  behalf,  and  rest  assured  that  1  shall 
hesitate  at  no  sacrifice  to  accomplish  it." 

Lady  Blanche,  standing  by  hir  father,  heard  these  words.  She 
saw  the  faint  flush  of  gratitication  which  tinged  lor  a  moment  the 
pale  features  of  the  mother,  but  she  noted  with  jjreatcr  cnre  and  in- 


21G 


A    WEKK    OF    PASSION. 


terest  the  carl's  langungc,  not  only  becuugc  its  pnnepyric  was  sweet 
to  hur  ear  but  'jccause  at'ain  it  revealed  a  new  item  of  inlelligence. 
>Vliat  was  tliis  l)iisiiiess,  not  of  nn  ordinary  nature,  us  sue  liad  sup- 
posed but  "  ot  vital  importunce,"  wliicU  had  broughi  the  elder 
Barton  up  to  London -wliieb  was  now  oecupyinjr  the  earl  anil 
George  Dnrlon  together— and  which  appeared  to  lie  uumannuig  them 

The  carl  who  had  cone  to  the  MbrRry,  had  not  sat  there  many 
minutes  when  Lady  Blanche  cnteied,  bunging  liim  a  cup  ot  tea.  to 
uive  her  counieiiunce.  Her  lace  was  pale,  but  determined ;  tlie  cup 
trembled  in  h<  r  hand.  She  tound  her  father  silting  moodily  in  an 
aim-chair  his  head  inclined  on  his  hand,  nn  altitude  winch  she 
knew  implied  dejection;  ioi  Ids  niiturnl  pride  and  vivacity  l<ept  his 
head  and  h"ure  erect  through  any  amount  of  physical  or  mental 
extrtion  unless  Ids  spirit  was  bowed  down  by  some  extra«iidinary 
emotion'  In  this  posture  flie  had  often  seen  liim  wlur  he  waa 
suflering  from  the  griet  ot  her  mother's  loss,  or.  since  tliui,  once 
or  twice  after  some  scandalous  escapade  of  his  eldest  son.  lor  notli- 
iDK  touched  this  min.  whom  we  know  to  have  been  guilty  of  an  act 
of  moral  isnominy,  more  than  any  attaint  of  his  name  or  ihe  honor 
of  his  house.  In  such  rare  moments  of  depression  as  his  attitude 
uowslgnifled.  hers  were  the  only  steps  that  might  with  impuniiy 
break  upon  his  solitude,  her  voice  the  only  one  which  did  not  grate 
unpleasantly  on  his  ear.  .,      » 

When  Lady  Blanche  came  in.  her  father  glanced  ui>  without 
moving— a  tact  in  itself  significant,  since  he  always  set  his  sons  aii 
examrle  of  chivalrous  and  punctilious  politeness  to  women.  IIo 
tried  to  smile,  but  the  smile  died  away  before  it  was  liorn,  and  left 
an  almost  ghastly  contraction  of  the  lips.  Then  he  molionod  to  her 
to  come  near  him,  and  laying  down  llie  cup  on  the  table,  she  threw 
herself  on  a  low  ottoman  by  his  side. 

"  Blanche  "  he  said,  reproachfully,  why  did  you  not  prepare 
me  for  this' dreadful  change  in  poor  Mrs  Barton  ?  It  was  rather 
thoughtless  ot  you  to  allow  me  to  be  surprised  in  that  fashion.  It 
nearly  knocked  me  over.  1  could  hardly  have  believed  it  possiole 
that  in  two  or  three  days  such  a  fine  woman  could  have  been  so 
terribly  alteied  by  grief.  She  looks  twenty  years  older.  It  is 
dreadtul— quite  dreadful!"  .         .,  .    , 

"  Dieadful  indeid,  papa,"  she  echoed,  in  a  deep  voice.  And 
it  would  be  moie  terrible  if  you-I  mean  if  any  of  us  had,  even  in- 
advertently, contributed  to  it.  '  ,  .  ,  ,  .    .c  ! 

There  was  an  under-meaning  in  her  tone  which  his  fine  sense  im- 
mediately perceived.     He  had  been  looking  on  the  giouud:  he 
quickly  flxed  his  eyes  on  her  face,  elevating  his  eyebrows  inquir- 
ingly.   She  saw  he  was  startled. 
"  What  do  you  mean?"  he  said.  , ,       , 

"  My  lord,  did  you  know  anything  of  this  telegram? 
Shehcld  out  Ihe  fatal  slip  of  pink  paper.  ,,       » 

Taking  it  from  her  hand,  he  rapidly  read  it.  She  saw  his  eye 
dilate,  his  nostrils  begin  to  quiver,  his  lips  to  compress  lightly.  For 
a  moment  he  appeared  hardly  to  credit  his  eyes.  Then  he  read  it 
aeain  slowly;  his  breath  came  and  went  painfully;  his  face  blazed 
up  in  a  sudden  wrath;  aud  drawing  a  long  breath,  as  it  he  were 


8  pnneprric  wns  sweet 
w  item  of  inli'lligynce. 
mlure,  us  sue  Jiiul  siip- 
Imil  broughi  the  elder 
ci:p}injr  llie  enrl  nnd 
tolieuumaDning  theiu 

ad  not  sat  there  many 
ng  liim  a  cup  ot  tea,  to 
lit  determined ;  the  eiip 
T  silting  niooiiilv  in  nii 
nn  attitude  wliidi  she 
e  and  vivnoily  lu'pt  Ills 
of  physical  or  mental 
by  some  extratudiuary 
een  liim  wlui;  he  waa 
iss,  or,  einee  tliui,  ouca 
is  eldest  son.  For  noth- 
ve  been  guilty  of  an  act 
'  his  name  or  ilie  honor 
jpression  as  his  altitude 
t  might  with  impunity 
ane  which  did  not  grate 

er  glanced  ni>  witliout 
e  always  set  his  sons  au 
littness  to  women.  Ilo 
>re  it  was  lioru,  and  left 
I'hen  he  motioned  to  her 
on  the  table,  she  threw 

ly  did  you  not  prepare 
Barton  ?  It  was  rallier 
Ised  in  that  fashion.  It 
lave  believed  it  possible 
nan  could  have  been  so 
aty  years   older.     It  is 

n  a  deep  voice.     ' '  And 
any  of  us  had,  even  iu- 

which  his  fine  sense  im- 
ing  on  the  giouud:  he 
ng  Lis  eyebrows  inquir- 


is  telegram?" 

ead  it.  She  saw  his  eye 
to  compress  lightly.  For 
8  eyes.  Then  he  read  it 
lintully;  his  face  blazed 
)ng  breath,  as  it  he  were 


A    WF.r.K    OF    PASSIOK. 


21: 


Rathering  all  liia  forces  lor  some  mighty  eflort,  he  cried  out,  in  a 
voice  loud,  strident,  intense,  as  it  he  had  thrown  into  it  all  the  moral 
energy  of  his  being, 
"  God  damn  them  I" 

It  was  not  au  oaili.     It  was  a  solemn  prayer.    The  words,  in  any 
case,  are  little  more  than  a  i)opiilar,  reduced  edition  of  the  commina- 
tiou  service,  wliich  ]  remember  was  in  the  Hook  of  Common  Prayer 
the  last  time  1  looked  at  it,  and  was,  1  believe,  the  production  of 
some  very  reverend  and  holy  persons.     It  is  their  too  frecpieni  and 
ingenious  application  by  the  vulgar  to  inadequate  cases  which  has 
given   tliem  the  bitter  llavor  of  profanity  in  the  mouths  ot  well 
regulated  persons;  but  I  trust  in  the  present  case,  where  they  ex- 
pressed the  violent  revolt  of  the  earl's  entire  manhood  against  the 
cieatures  who  had  launched  lliis  dastardly  bolt  at  the  widow  ot  the 
man  they  had  nmrdered,  the  Recording  Angel  hud  no  ditDculty  in 
contributing  the  oblileralive  tear.     Lady  lilanche,  who  could  see 
and  appreciate  the  feeling  with  which  they  were  uttered,  was  not 
shocked  by  them,  as  she  would  have  been  under  any  other  circtim. 
stances;  tor  lliere  was  a  genuine  solemnity  about  them— a  healthy 
outburst  of  Indignation  with  which  she  sympathized— and,  more- 
over, they  relieved  her  mind  of  a  great  anxiety.     It  was  clear  the 
earl  had  never  heard  of,  nor  .si«n,  this  message  hetore. 

Still,  having  thus  relieved  himself,  after  the  fashion  in  the  East 
(only  in  a  concentrated  triple  extract  form),  where  a  man,  after  call- 
ing down  curses  on  his  enemy  and  all  his  belongings  in  the  most 
dreadfully  minute  and  dialiolical  manner,  suddenly  calms  down 
and  takes  a  chibouk,  the  earl  mastered  his  emotion,  and  said  in  a 
voice  which  was  gentle,  though  it  still  trembled  with  the  after- 
throes  of  that  mighiy  eruption, 

"Forgive  me,  Blanche;  1  could  not  restrain  myself.  These 
scouuiliels— "  tie  bit  his  lip.  Again  she  saw  that  he  had  checked 
tlie  utterance  ot  some  vivid  tliought.  "  It  was  so  heartless  and 
thoughtless!" 

"  Yes,  papa.  You  were  saying  '  These  scoundrels  '—by  that,  of 
course,  you  mean  Pollard  &  Pollard?" 

"Nothing,  Blanche,  nothing,"  he  replied,  quickly,  "  My  head 
is  a  little  troubled  to-nighi—naiurally— alter  seeing  that  poor  lady 
— these  solicitors  are  8U(;h  fools—  they  really  annoy  me — fancy  their 
having  nu  more  .sense  than  to  send  such  a  cruel,  stupid  message  as 
that!    Ot  course  it  seems  as  if  I  were  responsible." 

So  he  ran  on ;  but  Lady  Blanche  thought  the  symphony  was  alto- 
gether too  weak  for  the  overture,  and  she  was  not  going  to  be  put 
oQ  with  that. 

"  Papa,"  she  said,  with  a  slight  severity  in  her  tone,  "  you  did 
not  say  "  tools  '—you  said  '  scoundrels;'  and  you  know  you  began 
by  saying"  — she  gave  three  nods —"  something  very  much 
stronger!' 

The  line  diplomatic  nose  ot  the  earl  scented  danger.  Nay,  his 
ear  ami  his  eye  detected  that  lliere  was  something  working  in  his 
daughter's  mind.  Was  it  merely  a  vngue  curiosity?  AVas  it  a 
feminine  intuition  of  which  he,  an  old  expert,  knew  the  miraculous 
power?  Or  was  It  possible  that  George  Barton,miglit  indiscreetly 
have  given  his  mother  some  hints  wliich  she  and  Lady  Blanche  had 


218 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


H*k"  <    iscert ...  tl  0  full  strc.^tl.  of  your  mlve.sao's  ,.o.iijou. 
We  wis^we  couU  rcM...rl  Lis  11.ouk1.Is  «ill.  H.cir  ualuml  rapuh  y 
lie  Sll  10  her  i..  ll.e  gentlest  pos.s.blc  ...uuuer.  w.th  a  touch  of 

pr".e.l?  or  is  y!,ur  Inajes^y  ple.u^CHl  to  deuuuul  any  further  u.tornm- 

tiou''    Or  whulis  your  iiiiijesly's  pleasure/ 

••  Mv    ml   thlH  is  no  ioUinn  .nailer;  this  is  serious-, 

••  What    is    seriou.r'    interruplea    the   call,    vivaciously,  and, 

Blanche  thought,  looking  her  tl'';o-'s;'' "jY,,'/'™""''.  „„out  Mr  Bar- 
•  •  \v-i,..  nil  th'it  is  now  haniH'Uinu,—  all  tnis  uorror  aooui  ijn.  "ji 

the  adversary  a..y  informalioo.  or  even  any  hlut.  of  that  which  -ho 

^'The\"?rS  down  ..pon  hei  at  once,  and  >vith  son.e  severity 

••    V hv   nTv  dear  child,  what  on  earth  have  you  lo  do  with    hese 
matters-  '  1  a^m.e    can  measure  and  n.ect.ny  moral  responsih  hty 

ntlv  B£clU"Ba;^a^^moment  that  il  she  remained  on  this 

«ro.ffisSTas"lol?.  and  ^^^  ^-^rrl'^r^^Z'^trSlVn^ 
lict  trom  the  arena  of  argument  to  that  of  emotion  where snt  ivue 

fhe  earTwould  be  as  little  at  home  m  an  «?l'^'.<=^  °"    '"nut  her  arms 

She  suddenly  slipped  on  her  knees  at  his  feet  «ni\P";;  ^"  f™' 

ro,md  him.  and  Rt  that  mome,.t  he.  mother  s  ^'^^.^-if^^^Jj 


of  this  suit  a  <;olcl 
liesltiitwl  lietwia'u  tlio 
liicb  Hcemeil  to  hv.  tho 
iiin  till)  exact  state  ot 
viuty  of  his  situiitioii 
loiiiiitic  rule  liaiiij;,  iit 
■  mlversiify's  jtosiiiou. 
leir  iialuriil  nipuUiy. 
iuer,  with  a  touch  of 

hull  up  hefoic  your 
my  lUin,  to  vtiify  ilic 
ilhuts  arc  to  he  iutur- 
l  any  further  iutornm- 

scrlous— " 

III,  vivaciously,  ami, 
■0U{;h. 

horror  ahout  Mr,  IJar- 
,  tor  which,  of  course, 
■se  mysterious  couver- 

and  trouble— nud  all 
il  with  your  solicitors; 

:ea  hilly  undertakes  to 
he  should  at  least  take 
plomacy,  and  not  give 
lilut,  of  that  which  sho 

with  some  severity. 
!  you  to  do  with  these 
my  moral  responsihility 
ly  daughter— tP^f'.  IH— 
ith  my  agents  without 
loulil  you  liuestiou  me 
h  u  young  gentleman 
Iv  designate  as  George 
A's  and  troubles?  Tell 
you  to  this  indiscreet 
ou  geuerally  have  some 

I  she  remained  ou  this 
insferred  the  entire  cou- 
inotlon,  where  she  kncv 
rich  on  the  ice. 

teet  and  put  her  arms 
lier's  cross,  quite  inad- 

eve,  and  sent  a  shoot  of 
red  well  the  purpose  to 
ick  him  as  peculiar  that 
ular  niftht.  All  experl- 
nk  from  sentiment  ana 
!  disturbing  to  the  calm 


A     WEEK    OF     P.VSSIOy. 


219 


wliicli  cynicism  aflects,  and  in  the  si^cond  place  herausu  they  know 
them  to  1)«  perilous  to  that  perfect  8elfcomm;iiid  which  is  the  essen- 
tial quality  of  an  atcomplisiied  worlillliies.s.  Anil  this  while  cross, 
us  well  as  Jllanche's  iiiauuer,  gave  him  asoit  of  vague  presenliment 
tiiat  tliere  wasHomelhing  serioiLs  and  euiotionai  in  the  air,  like  the 
electric  state  of  the  atmosphere  which  precedes  an  laithqiiake  or  a 
storm. 

"  l"apa,"  she  said,  "  yoti  must  not  he  stern  and  ironic  with  mo, 
tor  I  love  you  loo  dearly  to  hear  il  wllliout  pain,  and  you  know  I 
am  all  that  is  left  to  you— of— of— "  lur  hand  suddenly  sought  the 
cross,  and  slio  i)rc8.seil  it  to  her  lips.  "  Ileiuemher,  I  am  no  longer 
u  little  jiirl,  1  am  u  woman;  ami  lam  capable  now  of  undersianding 
the  causes  ot  your  anxieties.  I  can  not  shut  my  eyes  to  the  tact 
that  you  have  them— that  they  arc  grave  and  worrying— tliat  tliey 
are  tfyinir  your  m^rves  and  making  you  li  se  iour  self  eommind. " 

The  earl  starled;  he  liad  been  looking,  as  she  spoke,  into  those 
deep,  lustrous  eyes  wliich  met  his  cold,  suspicious,  inquisitive  guze 
with  equal  tenderness  and  resolution.  Was  il  possible  lliat  she  was 
so  clairvoyant— that  he  had  so  far  b-etrayed  him.self?  ile  was  an- 
noyed at  his  own  weakness,  as  Samaou'  must  have  been  when  ho 
liecnme  conscious  that  day  that  his  slren^ith  had  gone  from  him, 
under  so  exiguous  an  instrumentality  as  the  scissors  ot  Delilali. 

"  Yes,  my  lord,"  slie  went  on,  in  a  stronger  voice,  noticing  the 
movement,  "  1  have  seen  that  you  were  nervous  and  tiouble<l,  and 
more  deeply  than  can  be  accounted  lor  by  anything  that  appears  on 
the  surface,  and  I  sliould  like  to  be  a  comfort  to  you,  and  a  help— 
at  least  to  share  your  worries— for  to  .'•ce  you  like  this  and  not  be 
able  even  to  guess  the  cause  of  il  almost  breaks  one's  heart."  Her 
two  hands  were  now  clasped  upon  the  cross,  and  he  saw  a  dewy 
dimness  till  her  eyes. 

lie  c.mtrolled  an  emotion  which  had  begun  to  stir  his  heart,  and 
said,  dryly, 

"  1  w!is  not  aware  that  1  had  lK!cnmca  subject  of  such  close  study 
«nd  analysis  to  my  children— especially  to  you.  my  dear,  wliose 
thoughts  1  had  supposed  to  be  engaued  in  much  more  entertaining 
and,  for  you,  important  studies,  i'our  life  is  all  before  you,  and 
you  will  have  quite  enough  lo  do  in  devoting  all  your  attention  and 
judgment,  and  the  tact  and  cleverness  which  Ido  not  deny  you  i)08- 
sess,  to  the  paramount  subject  ot  your  own  future  .selileuunt  in 
lile,  without  concerning  yourself  with  your  fathers  anxieties,  oi 
intervening  in  altuirs  R'tiicli  you  could  not  possil)ly  uniler.'3taii(l,  and 
in  wliich  your  Interference  would  be  futile,  or  perhaps  miseliievous. 
1  think,  iny  dear  IJlanche,"  he  aaded,  kindly  bin  firmly,  as  he 
touched  her  forehead  with  his  lips,  "  we  liad  Jjetfer  not  pursue  this 
topic  any  further,  and  I  should  prefer  that  you  ilid  not  recur  to  it 
again. ' ' 

But  she  met  his  eye  firmly, 

'■  My  lord,"  she  said,  "  your  words  arecruel;  and  though  1  know 
that  my  intelligence  and  experience  may  not  be  of  tlie  s'Jirhtesl  use 
to  you  in  your  affairs,  you  forget  that  you  are  throwing  aside  what 
is,  alas,  the  only  source  of  aflectionate  sympathy  which  is  left  to 
you.  My  ambition  would  have  been  to  try  and  fill  my  mother's 
placB  in  your  life,  bin,  my  lord,  1  can  not  remain  a  mere  spectator 


>: 


220 


A    WEEK    OF     l-AfSlOV. 


'h. 
i 


I 


ot  vour  trouble.     You  luRl  now  rcfcrrc.l  ironlciUly  to  n  duty  whlcU 
f  o\vI'l  rmjaolf.ami'  which  y.n.  w...e  ^,m\  enough  to  say  wa« 
quite  .nou^h  to  oceupv  my  litiilteil  lnlellit,'ence- 
•  I  (lid  not  Bivv  Hrnlletl.' 

••  You  implied  it.  una  1  u.lmlt  It.  1  would  much  rnlher  that  uiy 
Intensl"  or  myhn,  pine«s.  Imdnol entered  into  the .im-slion;  1  should 
Ke  o  h'liv  '"eU  tl .  t  1  w,;«  deserving  ot  yoiir  .onndenee.  "iid  euiMi- 
ie.  t  ol  erin-  vou  at  least  some  of  the  sympathies  of  love;  1"  I  ' 'O 
von  mU  I  e  o  It  1  must  tell  you  that  1  Have  a  deep  persouHl  Inl.r- 
b^t  in 'learning  tile  nature  ot  your  troul.les.  ami  iu  their  hai>py  sohi- 

"°"'You?-  ho  said,  quickly.  Tlien  lie  thought  for  a  moment,  a 
curious  mix  ure  of  anM.ay  n.ul  gladness  animated  lis  teatu.e.s. 
••  Oh   did    on  Bce  Tilhury  to-day,  then?     What  has  taken  P-iC'e 

-Why.  my  lord."  she  said,  like  a  liash,  "what  has  filhurj  to 
do  with  vour  troubles?" 
Checkto  the  king. 

•■  There  yo.i  are  anuiu,"  he  said,  peevishly,  and  turning  his  cjes 
awaj Sm'her  clear'.a/.e.     "  Ueali;-.  Hlanche.  |''  «,'^ '!";;";'"[''il 
From  what  you  know  >..f  me,  do   you    hink  it  likel>  tl»'»t   1  ;^lll 
submit  to  Ije  cross-exanuucd  in  this  way  by  my  youngest  chil.U 

•'  Wd  it  be  so  very  strange,  my  lord  supposing  y^ir  honor 
and  hai  Piniss-and  mine,  too,  were  at  stake-for  nie  lo  .juestioa 
vo  ?  A  •  1  re.nenibor  now  I"  h^he  rrled  out  BliHrp  v,  as  f  sorao 
lulcen  I'd.  bad  been  let  in  upon  her  mind.  "Tilbury  told  o 
that  oW  M  liarton  had  come  up  to  I.ondon  to  se  t  e  the  acco  t8 
ot  the  Tilhurv  estates!  Father- father-surely-ll  is  not  possible! 
There  is  notlung  wrong  in  those  accounts?  ,  ,    .  , , 

The  shot  was  a  chance  shot,  a  singular  inspiration,  and  t  told 
with  deadly  effect,  though  tlie  fair  artillerist  did  not  know  whj. 

An  intense  pallor  whitened  the  earVs  face;  he  caught  her  arm  ex- 
citedlv  and  said,  in  a  low,  Irightened  voice,  ,_.,.,    „,  „^„ 

'•Why.  Blanche.  Blanche-what  do  you  know?  What  I  ,Wf,  yoa 
heard?    Who  has  been  saying  anytbinc?    ^yhat  do  you  me  ;i; 

"So  theie  is  something,  my  lord."  she  said,  brusuing  poav  all  bia 
oueries  "which  involve?  our  honor  and  happiness! 
^  "Pooh!"  he  ejaculated,  angry  and  moriifled  at  l^avujg J^feu 
/^ft.iDht  in  so  simple  a  trap.  "  1  have  admitted  nothing  of  the  kind, 
lonly  feared  tlmt  some  one  hml  been  gossiping  about  my  affairs; 
and  1  can  not  allow  that-1  wou't  allow  that! 

••  Mvlord  there  is  something-1  know  tliere  is-somelhing  gravo, 
serioS  drekdful-something  between  you  and  G'-orf  Barton- 
Set  hing  you  are  anxious  to  conceal-something  winch  holds  hua 
back  from  raving  justice  done  on  bis  talhcr's  murderers!  Do  yott 
know  that  it  has  nearly  driven  him  mad?  _ 

Barton's  mysterious  words  had  suddenly  recurred  to  her :      Scoun- 
drels whosb  guilt  it  was  not  possible  for  vou  to  prove  without  bring- 
-Dff  Shame  upon  some  you  respected  and  loved, 
^he  peer  turned  upon  his  daugliter  as  if  he  hai  Imbcii  stung. 

"What  is  that  to  you?"  he^said.  fiercely.  "What  is  George 
Barton  to  you?  What  does  it  matter  to  you  whether  he  is  mad  ot 
sane?" 


iciiUy  to  ft  duly  wliicli 
oil  euouijli  to  say  wa« 
;t' — " 

nuieh  rnlUer  that  my 
)  thc(|iii'slion;  1  should 

confldi'iKx',  iinil  ruim- 
tliJL'sof  U)vo;  l)Ul  KincQ 
ft  ik'i'P  perBoiml  Intcr- 
ail  in  their  huppy  sulii- 

iipht  for  ft  moment,  a 
uiimntcil  liis  teiituies. 
hftt  has  taken  place?" 
"what  hiv4  Till)ury  to 


■,  anil  turning  liis  eyes 
le,  this  is  unemlural)lo! 
ik  it  lilu'ly  that  1  will 
ntiy  youngest  chilii?" 
aupposing  your  honor 
le— for  mu  lo  questioa 
)i)t  Bliiirplv,  u9  if  soiuo 
111.  "  Tilbury  tolil  mo 
I  to  settle  the  accounts 
ely— ll  is  uot  possible! 

inspiration,  and  it  told 
iliil  not  know  why. 
;  he  caufiht  her  arm  ex- 
know?  What  I  ivf  vou 
Vhat  do  you  me  <v.i' 
id,  brusriing  pasi  all  hia 
ipinessi" 

oriifled  at  having  been 
ted  nothing  ot  the  kind, 
iiping  about  n.y  attairs; 
lit!" 

ere  is— something  grave, 
1  and  George  Barton— 
ething  which  holds  him 
sr's  murderers!     Do  yott 

•ecurred  to  her :  ' '  Scoun- 

u  to  prove  without  briag- 

ved." 

he  had  been  stung. 

ely.    "  What  is  George 

lu  whether  he  is  mad  of 


A     WEF.K    OF    I'.\SSI()X, 


881 


'  Oh  father,  father!"  she  cried  out,  in  a  voice  ot  anguish,  "  I 
love  lihni" 

For  an  instant  she  glanceil  at  his  terriblo  faic,  and  then  hlie  sunk 
down,  still  on  her  knees,  crouching,  witli  her  licail  licnt  (or.vftrd 
and  her  face  in  hci  hands;  nnd  thus  slie  wiiiteil,  kccniv  iilivf,  ex- 
))eclant,  palpiliiting,  for  tlie  blow  which  she  felt  must  lull,  not  from 
his  IiiukI  -it  is  French  and  Italian  counts  who  strike  women— but 
from  Ids  lips. 

[lad  slie  been  tlio  weeping  Magdalen,  wlioao  nttitudo  In  a  cele- 
brated picliiie  she  liad  unconsciously  assumed,  and  he  u  Phur- 
isec.  the  pcei  could  hardly  have  looked  at  lier  witli  a  more  piti- 
less bcorn.  The  traneiiion  from  the  magnilicent  idea  of  Lord  Til- 
bury to  llie  conmionplacc  riNility  of  Georjie  ISaitou— we  mean  strict- 
ly from  the  pointof  view  of  agreat  I-Jnglishenrl  -wasfoo  prodigious 
not  to  shake  the  vitv  fonndaiions  of  his  ciiuanimitv,  anil  topple 
over  the  entire  supci struct ure.  His  passions  were  boiling  up,  like 
a  geyser  suddenly  uncovired  by  an  eartliiiuake.  The  tlumc  Unit 
flashed  in  those  cold,  gray  eyes  of  his  was  lurid  as  the  blue  llght- 
nim:— Hashed  wesay— l)ecauso  thoricollarilyor  thisman'.s  tempera- 
ment was  the  pertcct  natural  lialanco  l)etweeii  two  great  foices  of 
pnsgiou  and  reason,  the  iron  control  which,  by  long  years  of  ex- 
perience, the  one  had  been  able  to  establish  over  tlie  other,  and  the 
phenomenal  rapidity  ot  ihc  interaelion  between  them.  The  tlamo 
died  out  in  a  moment;  his  face  became  dark  as  night. 

lor  a  short  lime  lie  wh:»  silent,  passing  in  review,  with  marvelous 
quu'kness,  the  salient  incidents  of  his  recent  interviews  with  George 
lia'ton,  searching  his  keen,  accurate  mcmorv  for  some  word  or  gest- 
ure, some  side  liint  tiutt  the  yoinig  man  miifht  Inive  let  slip  of  his 
daring  ambition;  tor  the  earl  could  not  po.ssiblv  have  guessed  at  the 
n-al  facts— the  , scene  in  the  Temple,  for  instance— and  ho  naturally 
supposed  that  his  daugliler's  avown.l  ensued  from  a  lomj-maturcd 
imilerstnnding,  or,  an  he  put  it  to  himself,  a  prolonged  course  of 
deieit.  He  found  it  impossible  to  recall  anything  that  even  his  sharp 
inslincts  could  fasten  upon,  and  he  was  forced  to  give  the  young 
man  the  undeserved  credit  of  bcine  one  of  the  most  discreet  and 
clever  diplomatists  it  had  "vcr  been  his  lot  to  meet.  That,  how- 
ever, by  no  means  aprcascd  the  severity  of  liis  judgment,  anil  it  cer- 
tainly increased  tlio  sense  of  danger. 

All  his  gratitude  for  the  nobility  of  Barton's  conduct,  all  his  own 
repentant  feelings  and  generous  emotions,  Ins  sworn  ol)lii:aiion8,  the 
extorted  trust  and  admiration  of  the  past  twcntv-fonr  Iiours  were 
at  one  sweep  of  the  sponge,  wiped  off  the  calendar  of  his  mind! 
The  damnable  fact  alone  remained  that  Barton  had  dared  to  love 
the  Earl  ot  Selby's  daughter;  and  the  suspicion  followed  dIosc,  as 
the  report  lollows  the  flash,  that  George  was  using  the  power  he 
had  acquired  over  the  earl's  destinies  to  further  his  own  audacious 
projects. 

Let  any  one  consider  how  perfectly  natural  this  suspicion  was, 
and  how  intensely  unfounded,  and  then  lay  up  in  his  heart  how 
perilous  a  thing  it  is  to  judge  of  the  actions  or  motives  ot  a  fellow- 
uiau. 

For  a  little  while,  1  say,  he  remained  silent,  raging  and  ponder- 


82? 


A  WKEK  or  i'Afisrov. 


In.r     When  he  .11,1  sprak,  l.c  h1.ow.m1  ^vl.|.t  n  rrofoun.l  wrnth  wn. 
"°ll'n'"n™  ••  he  h.iI.1  hMvxW,  "  it  spoms  n*  It  every  ono  wore 

d  ;.  U.':vUh:.S  .na.i.|.  in  Kn,lnna-.o  keq.  a  Btu.lonfs  totgue 

from  wun^iii^'!    TIml  is  your  bargain,  is  il? 
"it  Isfftlso  mvlor.l!  vou  know  It  IS  laisc!  ' 
With  a  crv'ti  at    .11.-  lhr..u^h  the  voon..  La.lv  Hlnncho  su.UYnlv 

tei'lSlV,, :  a"r,  »S;«S,  La  UC  »ula  sc  ter  eye.  Blowing 

?.....  c..»in,f hilt  the  earl  niatlc  a  gesture  ot  impati.nt  rtenial. 
^- Sr'Oco  '1;  a  0  No  womlor  he  has  nearly  lo.t  hlH  reason! 
nut  1  nS  wo  U  Imve  believed  that  you-my  tather-wonld  have 
?oncle  "cemtcd  lo  such  a  bar^.tln-no.  not  even  it  all  your  fortune  de- 

^'The^errl'stoo.1  paralyzed  an.l  speechless.  The  overwhelming 
phvS^cal  an.t  moral7ur/of  the  attH,^U«na  coming  trom  h.sdaugh- 

^'^fe^■;^elll:;;l'\o1i;"rire^';pout';Mhe  ground  like  an  ucet.sing 
snirJt  hea  t  iul,  superb,  Implacable.  There  .vas  tist  enm.uh  color 
ottriUU  in  he  accusations  her  excited  fancy  had  conjured  up  tc 
s  rlke  what  1  may  call  the  superstitious  sense  ot«  guilty  man.  ev..u 
thoUKh  he  were  as  atroni?  an.l  skeptical  as  the  Ear  of  ^elb^  iter 
aDnesrance  too   in  her  white  dress,  with  her  head  thrown  back,  h-r 

flTnostrils  quh-eriu.,  her  eyes  atlame.  ^^Z')^^^Z'^:^r.7ni':^Zl'. 
her  exnuisite  vounc  figure  luidulaling  with  the  movements  ot  pas 
lion   U    c  o^^3wlfc'^  cn.s«_.hiuing  on  her  hcavmg  t^rroat- 
iormt'l  aUogether  a  superb,  awful,  complex  .tatue  of  passion.     It 


A     WKF.K     op    I'ASalOIT. 


998 


,  protoiinil  wrnth  wm 

liUT,  paced  the  room, 

I  III  It  every  one  ircrc 
r\\t  ntlcr  niintlii-r— i»ti<l 
liflp'"  -l-iiMv  Illanrlic 
r  Imvc  l)(llr\c(l  it  pos- 
I'd  hU  hoiut.  niim|>h' 
pt  to  lie  true  imil  sin- 
llmt.  Bill  1  tlioujihl  I 
ilclHiRlnessotTillniry's 
1  liiivc  foreHeen  so  <om- 
llnrlon!  so  the  price  I 
-I  lie  h.iml  of  an  eiirl'n 
ceep  astuilont's  loiguc 


July  ninnclic  suddenlv 
still  on  her  knees,  turl 
HchinK  her  Imnd  out,  as 
liven  iwilnst  him.  llir 
),'ca  in  the  intensity  of 
111  SCO  her  eyes  glowing 

11  now !  There  i»  Bonie 
accounts— which  was 
lis  sou— which  you,  tliu 
,  for  this,  my  lord,  that 
iiiBile  au'ainst  an  honor- 
irahlc  injury  on  a  noble 
I  he  whelp,"  as  you  c.ill 
ot  justice  in  hiB  father's 
descend  to  accept  such  a 
said  it!"  she  cried,  ex- 
ire  ot  impatient  denial. 
i  nearly  los-t  Ills  reason! 
-my  father— would  have 
cu  it  all  your  fortune  du- 

8».    The  overwhelming 
coming  trom  hisdangh- 

ground  like  an  accusing 
re  was  just  enouuh  color 
ucy  had  conjured  up  to 
ise  ot  a  guilty  man,  even 
the  Enrl  of  Selby.  Her 
er  head  thrown  hack,  h«'r 
r  lipi  curling  with  sconi. 
Ih  the  movements  ot  pas- 
on  her  heaving  throat- 
lex  statue  of  passion.    It 


was  Greek  In  Iti  murvflon*  l)eniily  and  lienllien  imiphwaiilllty, 
I)aiit(Mi|iic  ill  Iti  dfpp  VMlcanlr  riiirVy.  Hoiiiaiiic  in  .is  ehlviilniin 
MUdailly—and,  willi  that  cross  nt  (lniiiV  m  hope  mi  lishreaitt,  M-riiitd 
to  draw  iiH  nioriil  Indlnnaiioii  from  ! ho  ven- «ourct's  of  t  lirMlmi 
entliuvlHMii,  TIh'  (|tilcU  olincrvcr,  to  winni  .KhcIiv.'um  aiiilJ)iiiiio 
and  Slinketpcari'  and  (locllie  wore  ftiiniliur  xpirils,  was  dlriicU  liy  it, 
a«i  iin  ciiilioiliKicnt  ot  ilic  liiii'itt  passHin  ot  all  the  urand  ul'i^.  And 
then  he  ciuild  almost  liavo  linagliied  Hint  his  wlto  hud  risen  lioiu  her 
giuve  to  c|(>iioiiii('(>  him! 

Trenililing,  hi'  ran  forward  and  SLizcd  her  hand,  while  hU  lacu, 
covered  Willi  a  sweat  ot  a^'ony,  In  nt  over  her. 

"  lllaiiche,  lllauelie:  for  (iod's  sake  don'i  look  i  I  nie  like  that!  1 
have  done  wriiiii;  — I  have  done  wroiii.'— lint  iinlliiiij,-  sit  base  lis  you 
Imagine,  nianihe,  voii  Mimll  know  all;  I  do  m.t  deserve  lliis  diead- 
fiil  dciniiiclalion.  Oli.  I'.liiiiclir'.  lilaiKhe,  take  back  tliosu  wnnls  if 
you  would  not  break  youi  tatliei  s  lieiirll" 

Mis  nioveinent  bnike  tlii>  s|ie||  ot  licr  pnKnion,  and  under  tlio 
reaction  siu!  sunk  back  a  liiile,  willi  one  Land  on  her  heatt.  She 
li>iiked  up  at  him,  rej;ielul,  appealing. 

"  Fornive  nie,  (alhei!'  she  iiiurinoieil,  in  loA,  biokeu  tones— 
"  forgive  mt'!  1  see  in  your  bici!  tliiil  1  have  wronged  3011:  but  oh, 
father,  father,  you  see  how  1  lovo  him!  And  you  wronged  liim  sol 
You  charged  lilni,  wliom  1  knew  to  bo  iiiiioci.it— wlioiu  1  knew  to 
be  Haerillciiit:  liiinselt  (or  ymi— and  me— you  eliaiKed  him  wiili  base- 
ness and  de:'eil— and  tliat— in  o'ller  to  win  me!  And  I  had  just  told 
vou  that  1  loved  him,  aiui  I  knew  it  to  be  liil.se.  It  cut  nie  to  tlio 
heart— and— and  1  don'i  know,  bin  il  seemed  suddenly  as  if  my  soul 
took  tire  and  I  must  (ii)eak      Hut  you  will  forgive  meV" 

;^lie  felt  his  hand  tremliling  in  la  rs,  while  his  lace  looked  giave, 
troubled,  irri'solute.  The  impulse  that  had  led  him  to  her  side,  and 
lo  the  eiuoiloiial  weakness  ol  his  suriender  and  ajipeal  had  been  » 
very  complex  one,  defying  analysis;  tor  soniu  of  tlie-  causes  weio 
moral,  some  asthetic— the  classic  gniiideur  ot  her  pii'sion,  for  in- 
stance— Home  i)liy«ical,  some  si»irilual— such  as  the  superstitioi:-!  in 
lluence  ot  the  cross— and  some  resulted  trom  a  rapid  aelioii  of  his 
mind  and  judgment;  but  one  thing  that  had  not  animiited  hiiii.T,a» 
any  alleraiiou  ot  his  feelings  in  regard  to  George  liarton.  Ami  here, 
Willi  that  strange,  one-ide.ied  iierliiiacity  ot  woman,  alter  terrifying 
him  into  a  eoiifo«sion— iiu  incredible  i)ertormance— and  in  the  very 
act  ot  imploring  his  forgiveness,  she  vindicated  and  lUUrmed  her 
love. 

Vet  he  was  conscioub  that,  although  she  was  on  hor  knee.s  at  his 
feel,  in  the  attitude  of  hnniillty,  tin:  moral  victory  was  lici.s.  Any 
man  against  wliom  a  moral  accusation  is  leveled  by  one  whose  owa 
moral  position  is  unassailable  must  be  a  poor  creature  if  be  caa 
fancy  that  that  which  is  true  in  it  docs  not  attaint  him  because  it  is 
mixed  with  false,  or  is  not  forniiilaied  with  legal  precision,  if  Lady 
Ulanche  had  not  caught  the  exact  truth,  the  purity  and  generosity 
of  her  motives,  the  undercurrent  ot  justice  in  her  denunciutiou,  hadi 
struck  vitally  home;  and  we  have  seen  by  his  words  Hint,  while  he 
flinched  from  the  exaggerations,  he  was  too  noble  to  deny  his  guilt. 
And  now,  wlien  slie  avouched  jouuu  Barton'.*  integrity  iind  candor 
of  action,  he  felt  that  she  must  have  had  good  grounds  for  doing  it. 


X 


2U 


A    WEEK    OF     I'ASs-lOK. 


The  nntural  iustness.  the  chivniry  of  his  nature  told  "eearl  tha 
he  hm  3  dngenerous.  th.it  .li.appointn.eiit  mul  anycr  had  warped 
hts   ud.  mcnt  that  Barlcn  couM  not  have  acted  vyilli  him  and  to- 

Sr^  in  afhe  had  done  yesterday  «"<M"-'"y-,^''"  f ':""£(i,Tue 
TilcDhislophelian  proiects  as  had  been  imputed  to  him  Btill  tue 
mrf  .^^is  PU/"led.  There  was  the  lact  that  B..rtou  oved  Lady 
Bland.?!  that  she  loved  Larton.  aiul  that  the  sec.et  had  heen  kept 

*' But^one  of  the  first  thinfis  that  comes  back  to  the  practiced  man 
ot  1  c  world  in  any  ot  those  rare  crises  which  lucontinenlly  disturb 
h  s  emdlib.  uni  is  his  dignity,  the  conservation  of  which  has  become 
an  iSie  And  in  this  supreme  momeul  the  earl's  sense  of  dignity 
rev  ve  a  o,  R^-ith  the  rush  ot  allecUon  for  his  aauglUer.  In  the 
S  a  aceful  manner  in  the  world  he  bent  down  and  impressal  a 
kiss  u?on  her  fTehead.  and  in  calm,  gentle,  grave  tones  answered 

^""'•"vSver  needs  forgiveness,  my  dear  daughter,  1  /"^Ri^e-^iai 
^v.  i,  y  heart.  Tliere  has  been  a  regreltabia  m"'""''^^^^"'','^.'"?-  i^^,^ 
Ts  t  us  that  a  man  of  tact  wraps  up  in  bonbon  paper  all  the  painful 
niemorics  ot  a  disagreeal.lc  incident,  and  almost  deludes  h.nise  f 
aid  o  Imrs  uto  belfeving  tlml  what  has  happened  was  after  a  1. 
less  ser  ous  Ian  it  seenied!)  •*  We  have  been  skirmi^nng  in  be 
dark  It  A  evident  that  we  arc  both  misinforincd-both  mistaken 
as  to  tlie  acts  on  either  side.  But,  Blanche,  believe  me  my  dear 
Hr  11  have  heen  silent  about  the  grave  matters  ^»i'fl»  l'«7/^^^''^° 
Sling  UiC.  it  was  for  your  gooil.  your  happiness  and  Peare  c^ 
Sd      On  tile  other  hand,  Blanche,  do  you  ''''"^  you  have  been 

Srit'wiicfcn'ri^=^ 

won  iJr  that     or  the  moment,  it  unnerved  me.     I  am  so  surprised 
Thn?!  am  unable  IS  jiulge  of   t  with  the  '^f'-^^^-^%Z'^^t^^ 
whirl-  a.  subiect  otsuch  v  tal  in.portance  demands.     J  lus,    ue  saui. 
rouchinV  he  cross  on  her  bosom.  "  reminds  me  how  irreparable  a 
loss  we  ha  e  both  sustained,  the  sharpness  ot  which  comes  liome  to 
us  when  we  have  to  face  such  questions  as  these     And  i    renimfls 
^:^  ^Veat  ana  deiica^  is  'Jj^^^^-^J'^^  ^J'ti  ^Z 
Sd^ hiXfnd '  :s!ed  llirhlaira^ainst  his  side.     '•  But^  dearest 
lilmche   this  token  will  suggest  to  you  how  much  1  have  lost-how 
S'iS  "he"  flection  and  solace  which  you  alone  remain  to 
fuDDlv     indeecl   we  are  necesaaiy  to  each  other;  and  now  that  so 
?pw  vpkrs  of  me  are  left  to  me.  the  moments  arc  too  precious  to  be 
rouff by  di  ag  eements  or  darkened  by  misunderstandings     1  ou 
1  ave  exoanded  suddenly  into  a  woman  of  rate  force  of  characler- 
SftC  Long  with  some  of  hi.  better  qualities,  you  have  lu- 
hedteVso'mrorthe  graver  faults  of  your  tather^s  ^-^ 
This  should  make  us  merciful  to  each  other,     lliepam  we  "»*« 
both  cxnerienced  to-night- sharp  and    deep  as  it  was -will    no 
ha?e  been  Sut  its'benetll  it  it  have  taught  us    bat,  and  itit 
leave  us  henceforth  to  the  calm  cn.ioyment  of  mutual  love  and  con- 
fidence." 


I'ASs-lON. 

of  his  nalnre,  told  the  enrl  that 
ypointnieut  i\ucl  an^cr  had  warped 
101  have  acted  wiili  him  auil  to- 
7  and  to-(liij',  while  rursinR  such 
)een  imputed  to  him.  Btill,  the 
e  iact  that  Bcrtou  loved  Lady 
d  thai  the  sec.et  had  heen  kept 

comes  back  to  the  practiced  man 
rist'3  which  incontinently  dietnrb 
conservation  of  which  has  become 
nomenl  the  earl's  senso  of  dignity 
lection  tor  his  daushter.  In  the 
Id  he  bent  down  and  ifnpresaal  a 
,1m,  gentle,  grave  tones  anewerod 

ny  dear  daughter,  1  forgive— wiOi 
jfrettabie  misunderstanding."    (11 
ip  in  bonbon  paper  all  the  painful 
.ent,  and  almost  deludes  himself 
hat  has  happened  was,  after  all, 
We  have  been  skirmialiing  in  the 
)oth  misinformed— both  mielnken 
Jut,  Blanche,  believe  me,  my  dear 
le  grave  matters  which  have  bren 
od.  vonr  happiness  and  peace  of 
iche,'do  vou  think  you  have  been 
lations— as  my  affection  lor  you— 
ho  middle  of  intiuile  anxieties  of 
dy  sijrun?  a  surprise  upon  me  the 
be  sensible  of.     Ton  can   hardly 
nnnerved  me.     I  am  so  surprised 
ith  the  calmness  ind  considewaion 
ortanco  demands.     This,"  he  said, 
n,  "  reminds  me  liow  irreparable  a 
sharpness  ot  wliich  comes  liome  to 
lestions  as  these.    And  it  reminfls 
is  that  re^pon^ibimy  which  1  now 
ice  trem\)led.     Bh-e  threw  her  arm 
1  against  his  side.     "  But,  dearest 
to  you  how  much  1  have  lost— how 
solace  which  you  alone  remain  to 
IV  to  each  other;  and  now  that  so 
he  moments  arc  too  precious  to  be 
•keued  by  misunderstandings,     lou 
woman  of  rate  force  of  characler- 
f  his  better  qualities,  you  have  m- 
alts  of  your  father's  temperament, 
to  each  other.    Tue  pain  we  have 
,rp  and    deep  as  it  was-wdl    not 
it  it  have  taught  us  that,  and  il  it 
eniov-ment  ot  mutual  love  and  con- 


A    WKEfC    OI.'    PASStON.  ^25 

The  delipnoy  of  thi.q  little  .'irgumont.  wilh  itt  nnafTecled  slmplicily 
and  candor,  struck  the  line  ciiords  of  Liidy  rilanchc's  niuiirc  wiiii 
tlic  syiiii)athetic  touch  of  a  master  hand.  The  man  who  conld  spi-uk 
thus  had  not  only  a  finelj-tempcred  nature- he  liad,  somewhere,  t\ 
truelicait,  if  at  times  it  r-.^fused  to  denote  its  presence  in  the  rlirht 
place  to  the  moBt  careful  aiiscultiilion.  Tlierc  nri!  heurls  ot  this  kind 
wliicli  seem  to  shift  about  In  men's  systems  as  if  tiiey  were  I'oreiirn 
objects,  and  only  now  and  then  turn  up  in  tiie  centerlo  lesuniellieir 
proper  functions. 

"  And  now,"  he  added,  after  a  little  pause,  "  let  me  liclp  you  to 
your  feet,  for  1  should  not  like  Colston  to  catch  ns  in  this  melo- 
dramatic attitude." 

"Father,"  she  said,  taking  both  his  hands  and  looking  up  into 
his  eyes,  "  I  snail  never  call  you  '  pajia  '  .again;  hefoic  !  get  up,  let 
mo  proniise  you  here  solemnly  on  my  knees  that,  however  deeply  I 
may  love— liin  —  I  will  do  nothing,  I  will  not  even  see  him  without 
your  consent.  I  must  have  the  agreement  of  your  judgment  and 
yoiii  heart.  And,  father,"  she  aiided,  with  a  gracelui  gcsilure,  a 
blush,  a  (juiet,  decided  smile,  "  it  may  he  years  in  coming,  but  you 
will  give  it — I'm  sure  you  will!" 

While  ho  sliook  his  head,  gravely  smiling,  he  raised  her  to  hor 
feet  and  put  her  arm  in  his. 

"  Jjet  U8  walk  up  and  down  the  room  a  few  minutes,"  he  said. 
"  1  will  tell  you,  dear  Blanche,  what  is  the  cause  of  all  my  troubles, 
and  yoti  shall  tell  me  how  all  this  has  come  about  It  is  understood 
— is  it  not?- that  henceforth  lliere  are  to  lie  no  secrets  between  us?" 
She  prcs.sed  his  hand  to  her  side  as  the  only  answer,  and  the  earl, 
now  in  full  possession  ot  himself,  sketched  out  for  her,  rapidly  and 
graphically,  the  outlines  of  l.ie  .situation,  lie  did  not  attempt  to 
e.\tenuato  his  error,  any  more  than  he  had  done  to  young  Barton, 
who  was,  by  a  curious  fatality,  tlie  only  other  ctnfidant  of  his  secret. 
Lady  Blanche  was  naturally  pained  and  shocked  at  this  revelation ; 
for  until  to-night  her  eyes  had  discerned  no  spots  on  the  bright  disk 
of  her  father's  character,  and  her  fine  natureinvincibly  recoiled  from 
any  moral  weakness.  IJut  his  pain,  the  severity  with  which  ho 
judged  his  own  conduct,  his  evident  repentance  and  desire  to  repair 
his  fault,  as  well  as  the  assurance  that  it  could  be  done  coniplelely 
by  a  limited  sacrilice  of  his  fortune,  alleviated  to  some  extent  Ijer 
grief  at  this  discovery.  One  thing  only  could  restore  them  both  to 
liappiness:  the  soiled  escutcheon  must  be  cleaned,  and  his  reparalion 
be  complete.  Above  all,  she  symiiathized  witli  his  desire  thai  this 
should  l)c  done  without  exposing  him  to  Uis  sister,  to  the  young 
Karl  of  Tilbury,  or  to  the  rest  of  the  family.  But  still  she  felt  that 
there  >v»8  a  duty  to  he  performed  of  even  greater  importance  than 
the  satisfaction  of  his  self-esteem. 

In  tlie  strength  of  her  own  moral  position,  she  could  not  but 
gather  greater  freedom  in  raking  lier  own  confession.  BlushinL', 
hut  frank,  and  eloquent  with  the  inspiration  of  love,  she  told  him 
all.  Lord  Charles's  hair  would  have  stoo<l  on  end  had  he  known 
how  his  father  and  sister  were  engaged  at  that  moment.  They  had 
already  reached  a  point  which  he  could  only  see  in  faint  pers|)ective 
at  the  end  of  a  troublous  journey  of  years. 

Wiien  the  truth  was  all  before  1dm,  the  earl  Imd  tlie  candor  to 
^.. .  9  .. 


^:*i 


4, 


n6 


A    Wr.F.K    OP    fASSTOK. 


no 


1 


1 


irrouiuls  ot  suspicion  against  Ibem  lire.  ,    ,. 

pooV  >lr  Barton?     But  there  are  two  pressing  reasons  for  imracd. 

"^'"^''Kvlioiintl  them  to  me,  most  wise  Mmorva!"  

"  1  ^^P  V        re  l)ecoming  yourself  again-yon  are  getting  mal  ; 
ciou!;  hu.5^;:ev  are  Sh  verj^  sl.ious.  One  concerns  you  personally. 

•'  K  dear  father     It  flashed  across  my  minu  while  yon  were 

anything  about  thai. 

::  TSertJ-Mr-lSon.     Don',  yon  sec  what  is  l.olding  him 

^"^^  a^ii^^rin?  S;::;rw;S^;;r;mile  ••  .h.  n.ero 

is  a  stroLge?  reason  than  that,  which  1  hnd_not  Buspectetl;  it  is  the 

j»di'1icacv  of  his  regard  for  some  one  else.  w,.oi,in(r 

<  Tlmt  inav  have  somclliing  to  do  with  it."  she  said,  blushing 

violence  to  his  feelings  on  one  side  or  tlie  other. 

The  earl  started  with  surprise  at  the  instness  ot  tl"^  nppreda^ion. 
The  int'n^Lion  ot  love  had  delected  that  which,  up  to  this  moment, 

had  escnned  his  own  (luick  apprehension. 

-WlTwhat  made  yon  think  of  thai?"  he  inqn.r»^^ 
"Something  which  tell  from  him  inadvertently  today,  for  1 


rce  from  Wnmc.  flo 
,  while  he  marked  the 
limselt  reHecterl  in  her 
it  firm  resoliuion  vvliich 
L  he  was  still  very  tiir 
jratic  YrMti  otteri  hold 

2  done?    Of  foiiise  yoii 
matter  as  yours,  and  in  • 
idcridion  ot  voiir  future 
s  will  not  wait.     U  de- 

irown  behind  her  l)anl{. 
Icfmcd  and  (iinidiasi/.ed 

hing  to  do.  No  matter 
[\ot  let  lliose  vil'iBins  ea- 
kuow  at  once  what  the 


;ut  1  don't  see  that  yon 
case  against  them,  can't 
e  iorgerv  discovered  by 
in;;  reasons  for  immedi- 

n—you  are  gettms:  mall- 
onceruayou  personally." 

ly  minu  while  you  were 

ccur  to  you  that  you  are 

remained  loo  silent  loo 

you  might  be  e.\po8(!d  to 

;  Biivton  lirouirbt  il  home 
But  he  had  not  lold  her 


1  sec  what  is  holding  him 

Iff  you — " 

a  grim  smile,"  that  llieio 

d  not  Buspectetl;  it  is  the 

ih  it."  she  said,  blushins 

you  see  lie  is  in  a  paintui 

,tc  himself  without  doing 

other." 

Mness  ot  this  appreciation. 

•hich,  up  to  this  moment, 

"  he  inquired, 
ladvertently  today,  for  1 


A    WEEK    OF    I'ASSION. 


007 


must  tell  you  be  kept  your  secret  mautully  against  Charlie  and 
me  ' 

"  Hum!  So  il  ssems.  It  is  rather  late  in  life  to  liave  learned  suih 
a  lessou,  but  1  make  a  vow  tlwl,  it  ever  1  have  a  secret  again,  I 
will  never  no  within  a  hundred  yards  of  a  woman.  Well,  and  you 
wish  to  have  him  relieved  from  lliis  dilemma?" 

"  We  owe  it  to  Idm— to  his  molher— not  to  allow  him  to  remain 
in  inis  paiutul  position  one  moment  longer  lliiiu  we  can  helj)  it. 
Father,  1  tliink  you  ought  to  tell  the  police  of  your  susi)icions  im- 
mediately." 

She  glanced  at  the  clock.     lie  noticed  the  movement. 

"  Whal!  to-night?"  lie  cried,  in  a  voice  ot  dismay.  "It  is  a 
qu.'irter  to  ten!" 

"Think,  my  dear  father!  1  know  you  are  weary,  but  a  few 
hours  may  make  a  dilTennce.  It  is  the  lirst  act  ot  reparation,  and 
1  want  above  all  to  see  you  separated  this  hour,  l)y  a  definite  act, 
from  the  villidus  wlio  sent  that  telegram  We  sliall  both  of  us  sleep 
more  hii|)pily  wlien  that  is  done,  lie  mtisl  know  notliing  about  it. 
Xeillier  you  nor  1  slioiild  see  him  tonight.  1  expect  he  and  Char- 
lie are  in  the  house  now.  Let  me  order  a  hansom,  and  drive  with 
you  to  Scotland  Yartl.  The  night  is  line,  and  1  will  wait  for  you  to 
bring  vou  home.'' 

"You  are  right,  Blanche.  Ah,  what  would  1  not  give  to  have 
your  youth,  your  enersy,  your  ingenuous  conridence  and  impetuous 
i!    Well,"  he  added,  pulling  the  bell,  "  Jint  ivliintiia  iua, 


enthusiasm 

(lea  implacahiliH  ! 


The  time  may  be  precious,  and  many  »  weary 


night  have  1  spent  working  for  an  ungrateful  country  at  matters 
of  far  less  practical  importance.     Colston,  has  anybmly  come  iuV 

"  Lord  Charles  is  in  the  billiard-room,  your  lordship,  and  Mr. 
Barton  is  with  Mrs.  Barton." 

"  Without  saying  anything  to  them,  send  for  a  handsom.  1  shall 
drive  as  far  as  the  House  of  Commons.  When  Mr.  Barton  comes 
downstairs  give  him  my  compliments  and  say  that,  to  my  great  re- 
gret, 1  am  obliged  to  go  out  on  important  imsiness,  and  beg  liini  to 
excuse  me.  Say  that  1  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  calling  upon  hiiu 
to-morrow." 

Lady  Blanche  bad  already  disappeared.  In  Icsa  than  three  min- 
utes she  returned,  enveloped  in  a  long,  daik  mantle,  and  wearing  a 
loque  and  veil.  When  a  woman  chooses,  she  can  perform  a  toilet 
witli  the  rapidity  of  a  Patagonian,  but  tben  she  chooses  only  about 

twice  in  a  lifetime. 

******* 

Deep  was  the  disappointment  of  George  iiarton  when,  on  rejoin- 
ing Lord  Charles,  be  received  the  earl's  message,  and  learned  that 
Lady  Blanche  bad  gone  out.  He  had  counted  at  least  on  seeing  lier 
and  pressing  her  hand,  and  she  bad  vanished  without  even  leaving 
him  a  word.  He  looked  blankly  at  Lord  Charles,  who  looked  quite 
as  b'ankly  at  him. 

"  Here's  a  pretty  go!"  remarked  the  young  lord.  "  The  peer  and 
peri  gone  off  together  on  a  nocturuid  expedition— in  a  hansom— my 
dear  fellow,  in  a  bansou).  The  peer  has  given  the  address  as  the 
House  of  Commons;  but  do  you  know  what  1  suspect?  Slie  has 
coutcssed,  and  be  bus  taken  litr  oil  to  Bethlehem  Uospital.    1  bavo 


SI 


^•28 


A    WEKK    OK    I'ASSION. 


hud  llie  cuiiosity  to  cross-ex.in.ine  (Jolslon  as  toliow  she  was  i  reescd 
^   .    rl;  ^r  Hoot  an.l  cap  a.ul  veil.     A...1  .lo  ,ou  know  t he  ca 
h>iV    e  cui  nii.K  to  iriv.;  .liruclu)!!*  that  we  wore  not  to  l.o  told  o   it 
tlti  tt^y  Cl  lloueV*'  What  do  you  think  of  that?    Call  you  that 

•'"•'^;^'b;'Sus'  ClmrE"  suid  Barton,  peevishly,  for  he  was 
pn,t!,und;y  penrx-'l  '0-  H.iH  "O^tcious  maneuver.     "  What  does 

*'  "'Sv  "mrfel'low,  1  don't  know  any  more  limn  y....  do.  1  have 
told  vou  the  sir  et  1  "til.  The  fu.vnlivfs  appear  lo  have  been  closeted 

1«  .I'lu'r  in  tie  library  mnx  dinner-lime,  the  peer  rinss  tor  u  han- 
togell  er  III  t  It    iuiai>  ^.^^^  .^  ^^^^^^  ,,,y 

Su  oK^  rs"'«l'VsaV  l^-'Owi">;  tl-  .voun.,.  lady,  there  8 
HO  nJthin  As  for  the  earl,  1  have   lonj.  since  f^iven)  up  guess- 

i  !  at  I  8"n  o  ives  lor  any  ,.arlicular  line  ol  action  as  a  n.iieulous 
S  t  e-nea  iv  as-unsatislactory  and  exasperaljn.i;  as  o-iiiK 
lo  lis^i  he  8k  a  of  the  milk  out  of  a  bowl  of  French  coiTee.  Ol.  Ijou 
cvJ  try  iiv  l.  lluie,  you  see.  it  all  eirgs  were  transpareu  here 
would  bono  addled  ones  sold,  ami  tiade  won  Ul  suller-,  and  if  all 
wouiu  in.  iiu  "t  »K;cui)ation  would  1h)  i,'oiie, 

r/lllSliSr" .""  ^^  ^" -i  •'  ."Mu.s'i>,ility.  ]\nt  lilanehe  «  dillerenl 
-^ le  •  i«  a  iflass  of  water.  And  alter  what  took  place  o-day,  she 
;^,ild  never  h!^^^^^^^^^^  out  and  lelt  us  in  the  lure l,  in  ll.is  way  nn- 
Tels tlinS  ver^  serioiiB  were  in  the  wind,  thaf*  my  solemn  cou- 

''' -  Wiiich  does  not  brinff  us  one  whit  nearer  a  solution." 

"True— exactly  liko 'Pahy's  Evidences.  ,,    .     . 

Pro  mind  imii^elude  and  discontent  settled   down  on  Hartou  s 

mind  when  alter  si.cndinK  a  long  hour  in  vain  conjecture,  he  had 

Xii  le  vc'(     'or.   Chiules  toward  midnight;  and  starU-d  to  walk 

ril  -Temple.     Who  that  has  experienced  the  weakneSB  ol   h.yc 

clKcrci  ms  '."^•"'-     '  ,    ,.„„ro-ieg  bv  her  ingenuous  avowal,  and  his 
Of   looked  his  feel  ngs    nto  her  ear  or  eve.      JNovv  uinit  was  uoi 

S£s:sisSSSs:EB 

ircl,'x    to  prevent  their  meetiugV    This. being. the  most  pain    i 
RnnoosH  on    was  naturally  the  one  which  his  mind  nurse<l  as  the 

Klr^  mhl<.  nn.l  it  tilled  him  with  presentimcntB  of  trouble!  and 
rir  No  nee.l  o  dSbe  S^  lliought  chase.1  thought,  and  one 
dS  fimcy  followed  on  .mother,  as  hurry  n' clouds  in  a  8ept..n  - 
hTsk?  Occupied  with  his  reflections,  he  had  l^^e^l'-'^'c"  >'  k«" 
Se  rSe  along'  Whrmore  Street  to  ^^^'"'i^^'CeM^^.Sne 
down  Prince's  Street,  wlien.  turning  into  Oxford  Sl^^.f. ''»-  "^^Zl 
conscious  with  a  shudder  that  he  was  at  Regent  Circus-on  the 

Th  tetaJten  urSce  then!    Re  had  seen  it  by  day  and  by 
uijht'    EvSy  Sureof  It  was  photograpbed  \tx  Oeep  l^mbrauai 


lo  how  she  was  rtrcBBcd 
do  J  oil  know  the  curl 

ore  nol  to  be  told  of  it 
tliiil?    Cull  you  that 

leuviwhly,  for  ho  was 
iicuvcr.     "  What  Uocs 

than  you  (lo.  1  hnve 
,1'  to  liaVo  been  closetetl 
e  )H;ir  rings  tor  u  haii- 
r>ul  ii  you  want  uiy 
L'  vouiii;  laily.  there  ia 
since  i^iven;  up  guess- 
actioii  as  a  riuiculoua 
cxasiieiatui!;  as  lryin« 
h'rt'nch  coiTee.  ilitt  you 
wire  Iranspuri'ut  there 
nmUl  sutler;  anil  if  all 
palion  wouhl  Ihj  none. 
Jut  lihinehe  is  ilitlerenl 
t  took  place  to-ilay,  she 
I)  lurch  in  this  way  un- 
l,  that's  my  solemn  cou- 

!r  a  solution." 

:\ei\  down  on  Harlou's 
^ain  conjecture,  lie  had 
lit;  and  started  to  walk 
1  the  weakness  ot  love 

suddenly  chill  thctcver 

Ills  mothers  subduwl 
inas  and  condition,  had 

tiie  noble  girl  tor  thus 
;enuous  avowal,  and  his 
lie  only  have  whispered 
1.  Now  Ihnie  was  not 
hat  could  this  strange 
f  Tilbury?  or  was  it  not 
ur.l  that  he  had  iuventeit 
,  beinn  the  most  painful 

liis  mind  nursed  as  the 
jntimcnts  of  troubh;  and 
chased  thought,  and  one 
yin  f  clouds  in  a  8ept<^ni- 

had  mechanically  taken 
idish  Square,  and  thence 
:)xford  Street,  he  became 
it  Itegeut  Circus— on  the 

lad  seen  it  by  day  and  by 
)bed  In  tleep  Hcmbrauai 


A    WEKK     OK    I'ASSrON. 


229 


Bliadowson  his  heart.  And  just  now,  when  that  little  chock  had 
rolled  buck  upon  themselves  the  gusliiiiir  fountains  of  his  love  and 
created  a  little  wlilrljiool  in  his  soul,  Ik;  found  himself  there,  on* 
more  in  face  ol  his  grief— and  ot  Ins  vengeance.  At  that  hour  of 
the  night  the  turbulent  movement  of  the  Circus  trafllc  lia&  died 
down.  The  pavements  are  no  longer  lilled  with  an  eddying  crowd. 
The  omnibuses  come  uj)  few  and  crawling.  The  lighter  tradic  of 
carii  igos  and  cabs  hiis  dwindled  down  to  mere  units  swiftly  coming 
and  de|)iirtinir.  At  the  corners  gather  a  few  scores  of  home  going 
persons  waiting  to  take  their  places  in  the  omnibuses;  guy  and  yet 
sad  night-birds  ot  both  sexes  till  here  and  there;  two  or  thr«;e  police- 
men gossip  under  the  lamps  with  each  other,  or  with  those  passing 
scores  of  chance  uc(piuintaiices  which  everyone  who  has  any  sta- 
tionary duty  in  a  great  city  is  sure  to  make  "with  the  fre(|uenter8  ot 
the  streets.  The  lou<i  roar  of  the  huinun  waves  has  ceased,  and  tho 
tide  is  ebbing,  growing  gentler,  as  it  ie<:e<tes,  until  at  length  it  set- 
tles down,  far  in  the  iiiglil,  into  almost  jiertect  calm  and  silence. 

lie  jiaused  tor  a  moment,  and  then  imposing  a  firm  control  upon 
his  toellugs,  he  went  and  stood  there  upon  tho  spot  where,  still 
vigorous  in  lite,  active  in  iulelligence,  anxious,  but  brave,  busy 
with  the  interesis  of  time,  duty,  alloclion,  and  all  unconscious  ot 
the  dark-winged  messenger  vvliicli  was  hovering  above  the  crowd 
and  had  fixe<l  its  fatal  eye  on  him,  his  father  had  changed,  in  tlio 
twinkling  ot  an  eye,  from  body  to  atoms,  from  soul  to  spirit. 

Tliere  was  nothing  to  mark  tlie  spot.  The  roadway  had  been 
nieiuled.  Thousands  of  fet^t  now  trod  it  daily  with  indifTorent  gtepB 
— the  ground  where  a  brother  man  had  been  foully  slain.  Only  last 
week— but  the  talc  had  already  begun  to  drift  into  legond.  One  of 
tour  millions!  What  is  that?  Who  can  stay  to  count  the  leaves  of 
a  forest  as  they  fall? 
George  Hartoii  stood  there  musing. 

He  did  not  see  or  hear  a  policeman  pointing  at  Lim,  and  saying 
to  u  curious  American  from  the  Langimm  Hotel, 

'•  Why,  right  there,  sir,  where  yoii  see  that  gen'leirfan  a-standin'; 
that's  the  very  spot!" 

Had  he  heard  that,  he  must  have  turned  and  fled;  but  fate  had 
willed  it  olber\rise, 

lie  was  lost  in  thought.  His  fatlier's  figure  seemed  to  come  up 
iK'fore  him  just  as  he  was  in  life,  gentle,  genial,  firm,  with  the  dig- 
nity of  virtue,  and  tlie  frank,  clear  eyes  of  a  perfect  integrity. 

He  could  almost  fancy  that  the  figure  looked  at  him  earnestly,  as 
it  searching  into  his  inmost  soul,  nud  asking, 

"Is  thy  lieart  true?  Dost  thou  shrink  from  ihy  duty?  Doth 
aught  stand  l)etween  thee  and  thy  love  and  loyalty  to  me?  Wilt 
tliou  sec  that  my  honor  is  vindicated— that  the  good  name  1  treas- 
ured 80  highly  is  not  trampled  in  tlie  dust  by  feet  so  foul  as  those 
of  my  murderers?  Are  they  to  go  unpunished?  Uemember,  .son, 
that  lileor  love  or  fortune  is  none  ot  them  so  precious  to  tliee  as 
Ihy  father's  honor,  tor,  if  thou  be  worthy  ot  it,  it  is  thine  own;  it 
thou  permit  a  spot  to  rest  upon  it,  it  is  to  thy  eternal  shame!" 

Thus  did  the  siiaile  which  his  vivid  but  gloomy  imagination  had 
conjuteti  up  app<'ar  lo  sjieak  to  him  as  he  stood  on  the  last  ground 
its  liviujj  feet  Ua4  trod. 


230 


A 


WKKK    OF     I'ASSION. 


'<  Vfiilinr  "  ho  murmured.  "  if  you  ciin  see  into  my  beart,  you 
yourmcmorysliallemiuU.   ssti^^^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^ 

shall  ineclwith  J'l«'''^.'-\  ,,,''V'";  r,  In  v  lu.Pt-s   a.ul  a.ul.iltons. 

ir,;olJfwm;a.ul  iis^hc.rl  tola'  hi.n  at  ...at  moment  that  a  way 
would  be  found  ol  reLonclling  love  and  duty. 

CllAl'TP^R  XlX. 

TUB  LAST  UUECiS  OK  THE  CUl>  OK  HUMILIATION. 

Late  in  the  evening  of  the  same  eventful  '''"'^.'l-iy  "'« .fjj^'f * 
IjAte  '"  "'^^V",,",,?        .  jir  sontag  weie  closeted  together  in 

ot  state  to  disprove  as  promptly  as  possible  the  genera  notion  ""' 

Axmnif  the  day  in  the  investigation  of  the  circumstances. 

McLaren's^isapi^earance  had  excited  profound  ri'".l"\f  '","'« 


see  Into  my  Learr,  you 
and  iliily.     As  1  live, 

)iir  life,  your  iminleicrs 

mve  lo  Ifiir  .mt  of  my 
hopes   ami  iiml)iltoiis. 

itc  nil  to  the  viudlculiou 

le  Sftcrifice  on  the  iilliir; 
itf  Imil  lliiiB  enilcd  wilU 
)f  hope  iiDil  np|)iol)iilioii 

though  it  liiiil  iliopped 
lie  Blurted  and   jumped 

crushed  by  ii  Imiisom, 
jet,  nud  was  close  upon 
8  faeins  it,  aud  a  slight 
eye  fell  upon  the  oceu- 
white  handkerehiet  lUit- 
idy  Uli.nehe!  The  eail 
I  out  in  i»  voice  bright, 
lid  they  were  none, 
of  cambric  aud  thrust  U 
iliul  moment  thul  a  way 


L 

f  HUMILIATION. 

itful  Tuesday  the  Chief 
weie  cloaeted  toRCtlter  in 
ler  hud  come  in  from  a 
I  Home  Secretary  in  his 
for,  durinir  the  session,  in 

to  the  use  of  rainisteis  in 
m  important  act  of  Stale 
is  done.  The  Invincibles 
ciiemeut  produced  by  the 
)ritie8  with  threats  ot  new 

beinn  watched  to  prevent 
important  to  the  Secretary 
l)le  the  neneral  notion  that 
lit  startling  crime,  and  the 
;  pro(?re8B  had  been  made 

circumstances. 

profound  dibquiet  in  the 
hat  the  orwanizalion  they 

was  one  of  cxlrnorriinary 
me  particular,  the  Ilomo 
ilniltted,  Mr.  Sonliifr's  pre- 
'I  here  was  no  doubt  that 
rlou  the  elder,  was  the  per- 
e.  Such  being  the  victim, 
lio  could  those  euemios  be? 


A  vrv.v.K  or  rA.'^flTON. 


981 


There  wiw  the  nib!  So  far  na  tlio  knowledge  of  tho  police  ex- 
tended up  to  tlie  present  moment,  Air.  I'arton  luid  no  enemies.  On 
the  contrary,  all  the  information  thiiy  could  gather  went  to  prove 
the  (luict,  amicable  cliaraeter  of  all  liis  relations.  Even  the  Earl  of 
Si'll)y,  wlien  he  iiail  accused  him,  through  Ills  solicitors,  of  running 
away  with  his  property  liml  seemed  wounile<l  and  astonished,  and 
spoke  ot  the  long  Iriendship  that  iiad  existed  between  them  as  an 
aggravation  ot  the  supposed  ollense.  One  exception  only  to  this 
general  testimony  had  not  escaped  the  chief  detective's  observation. 
Air.  Sonlag,  Garbett,  every  one  who  had  come  In  contact  with  Pol- 
lard it  I'oilard,  noliced  that  there  was  an  underground  of  animosity 
in  tlieir  feelings  against  the  agent.  These  were  the  last  persons 
Willi  wiioni  he  had  liccn  engaged  in  serious  business.  Sontair,  re- 
viewing liie  case,  pointed  this  out  to  his  chief,  and  owned  that  after 
the  earl's  conduct  in  the  morning  they  could  not  entertain  any 
doubts  of  his  sincerity  and  innocence. 

"  Indeed,"  said  Sontag,  "  the  state  of  affnirs  disclosed  to-day  is 
very  curious  and  niyaterioup.  You  will  follow  nie,  sir,  point  by 
point?"  .,.. 

Sir  Henry  nodded. 

"  The  day  that  Air.  llarton  disappeared  yonngMr.  T^arton applied 
to  the  police  to  help  him  tolind  out  what  had  h?come  of  his  father, 
and  his  manner.  Ids  anxiety,  and  grief  satisfied  us  that  he,  at  all 
events,  was  not  acting  in  collusion  with  the  old  gentleman.  Next 
•lay,  Friday,  information  is  lodged  here  by  Pollard  &  loUard,  as- 
suming to  net  as  solicitors  for  the  Earl  of  Selbj'. " 

"  Why  do  you  say  assuming?" 

"  Because  from  what  lias  happened  since  I  guess  that  the  earl 
rather  permitted  than  directed  them  to  act  as  they  did,  and  since 
then  he  has  practically  thrown  them  ov(?r.  " 

"  That  is  a  very  strange  state  ot  things,"  said  the  commissioner. 

"  It  is,  sir,  and  grows  stranger  tlie  more  one  examines  it.  You 
see,  Air.  Darton  was  Lord  Selby's  agent  and  solicitor!  Why,  then, 
.should  he  have  employed  Pollard  tt  Pollard  as  well?" 

The  chief  detective  stuck  his  head  lorward,  and  peered  at  the 
commissioner  in  that  provoking  way  which  was  habitual  to  him 
when  about  to  put  the  astuteness  of  any  one  with  whom  he  was 
conversing  to  the  test. 

"  1  don't  see  why  not,  though  1  suppose  you  do.  Confound  your 
conundrums,  Sontag— let  us  gel  on!" 

"  1  beg  pardon.  Sir  Henry,  The  same  firm  were  solicitors  lo  the 
estate  of  the  Earl  ot  Tilbury,  of  which  Lord  Selby  was  the  surviving 
executor,  and  also  to  the  countess,  his  sister.  Do  yon  not  think  it 
rather  odd,  if  not  irregular,  that  the  same  lawyers  sliould  be  acting 
personally  for  the  carl,  as  well  as  on  account  of  the  estate  of  his 
ward?" 

"  1  don't  know  enough  about  such  things  to  pass  an  opinion;  but 
no  one  would  think  of  criticising  such  an  arrangement  in  the  case 
ot  the  Earl  of  Selby,  a  man  ot  unbleiiii.shed  honor,  and,  1  should 
think,  quite  as  rich  as  youne  Tilbury." 

"  1  am  not  ^o  sure  about  I  lint,  sir.  1  l)ellcve  not.  At  all  events 
hit  estates  are  not  so  productive  as  Lord  Tilbury's,  and  there  is  this 


A    WKI'.K    OK    I'ASfilOK. 


p- 


.unfrenco-Lord  Tilbury's   estate  arc  free  from  Jncuml.rancpft. 

iSuc  "  ?.avoCnuin.,a  timt  the  Earl  of  Selhy  >'««,|-e«>^"l  'X  "«-'" 

3«  larKC  sums  of  money  tl.roiinl.  these  very  solicitors. 

••How  do  you  know  thalV"  in.iuir«.l  the  conunlHsioner. 

"1  have  Oarbetl  at  wmk  in  the  I'oUar.lB'  otlire.     '^"V'  '•"■'' 

clerks  has  Liven  him  some  ^'enerttl  information _  tho.iuh  ho  is  un- 

SuiinK  to  «*;  PP?y  particulars,  or.  more  probably  has  n..  kMO>vk..l«e 

Tf    lem      The  iirocecdinL's  appear  to  he  hlfilily  mpter.ous.     Now, 

Sir  lle"ry   vou  foUow  ...e?    kue  Karl  of  Seiby  has  an  agrtJt.  a 

«olici  o?  ami  a  very  able  n.an,  Mr.  liarton.  who  floes  every  hing, 

neverthcleBS  U,c  ea?l  cmployi  Pollard  &  Pollaid,  »„lic  to«  to  his 

w.ml  and  to  hU  sister,  to  raise  large  sums  of  money  for  him  for  my 

knoin  purjrs;  and'  although  the  '''-'"-^  'l^^  ''^°,  ^SJ    ,", 

.ome  tine  Mr.  ISarton  has  never  turned  up  in  H  until  aDoui  lou 

ar^Sore  his  disaptiearance.     Ho  transacts  the  b.iainess.  or  to- 

^k^wsUw.tll  Pollard  &  Pollard,  the  curl,  by  the  way,  bcmg  meau- 

^')J^^a^.S;dnir^ul  sU^/'alWle^  <>*  -"'-""-•" 

said  tlie  cliief  commissioner.  .     .  „     , 

has  liappened  tlus  afternoon.  ,    i  „„, 

•' Ellt  something  new r'crial  the  commissioner. 

•'  Yes  sir-  but  with  your  permission  1  will  take  thinRS  In  /"I'''; 
«Anfl„?f;d  Mr  Sontac  shuflin}:  some  papers  ^^hich  were  docke  ed 

musfhVe  sent  it  to  the  papers  for  insertion  on  Monday. 
"  Kve^ot(!("Sown  ihe  information  1  have  collecte.l  about  those 

accuracy  of  each  fact : 
"  •  Monday  June  23rf.-Mr.  Barton  entered  Pollards'  with  a  large 

'   '^".^^'ttX'S.-ViBitof  Mr.  Burton  10  Pollard  &  PollurU. 


m 


iloK. 

free  from  Incumbrancps, 
if  Helhy  has  recently  l)w;ii 
le  very  solicitors." 
10  conuiiiHsionpr. 
mU"  otlirc.     Ono  of  tlu-lr 
rnmtion   thonifh  lio  is  un- 
obiibly  1ms  no  knoivlc(l,!,'o 
liiirhly  myRtcrioiis.     Now. 
of  Sdl)V  1ms  an  agent,  a 
on.  who  floes  everything; 
;  rollaid,  KDlicitors  to  his 
»  of  money  for  him  for  tin 
liens  liuB  itncn  in  liaiul  for 
I  u|>  in  H  until  about  Ion 
naacls  the  Uiiainess,  or  re- 
1,  by  the  way,  being  mean- 
■ilcrert." 
!  capable  of  explanation, 

ation  is  this,  toUowinc  on 
^ulby  lins  shown  no  groat 
avi!.  To  <>uy  h«  is  takinj; 
•  ol  the  crime;  lodfty  tho 
liL'T  pursuit  of  in(iuiri»-»  as 
something  very  aignitieant 

nmissioner. 

:  will  take  thinRS  In  order," 
inpers  which  were  aoclvHied 
ell,  sir,  Mr.  Parton,  coming 
ig  conferences  with  PoUanJ 
II noon  last,  which  was  of  so 
■iosity  ot  tho  clerks  in  Pol- 
ince  in  that  otllce.  Second 
B  advertieefnent  which  those 
today's  pap«rs.  1  refer  to 
of  valuable  documents  and 

vcrtiscmenf?" 

r(biy.  when,  of  course  tliey 

I  lion  on  Monday." 

1  liavc  collected  about  tliosc 
L-ning  ot  the  fuels;  it  is  more 
ludum ;  you  can  rely  on  the 


ntered  Pollards'  with  a  large 
in  When  he  went  away  the 
it,  and  when  empty  could  be 

Jartou  to  Pollard  &  PollurU. 


A     WKKK    OF    I'ASSrOV. 


233 


Stormy  Interview.  Mr.  M.  "  very  nuich  excited  and  trcmhlfn^ 
wlit'ii  li(^  went  awuv." 

•'  '  '/'/iiirm/iii/,  ','»;?//.— I >eath  of  Mr.  narton  In  Hegenl  Ciicus,  on 
his  way  to  iin  iippointmenl  with  the  Karl  ot  Sell)y. 

'•  '  Fiiiliii/,  '^'T /(.  —  Pollard  it  Pollard  informed  tho  polico  of  tho 
llijilit  ot  Mr.  Harlon  with  a  lot  of  i)u|Hr«,  etc.,  of  i?real  value. 

"  '  Siiliiiiliii,,  ini/i.—Mi.  ("imiles  Pollard  went  down  by  midday 
train  <<)  his  country  seat  in  Kent,  relurninu  same  evening.  Took 
with  liini  a  heavy  bag,  seeming  to  contam  law-paners.  'I'lie  porter 
noli  \!(l  thin,  its  ho  had  Ihc  ba^  in  his  band  and  put  it  into  llie  cab. 

•'  '  Miimlan,  ild^A.— Advertisement  appears  in  Lontlon  journals, 
ollering  reward  for  lecovery  of  (Jeorgc  Darton  with  deeds  of  title, 
bonds,  etc.,  signed  "  Pollard  &  Pollaid,  solicitors  to  the  Rt.  Hon. 
tiie  Karl  of  8ell>y,  K.  <J." 

"  '  12. 1.").— Visit  of  the  Earl  of  Helby  lo  Pollard  «&  Pollard,  and 
subseiiuently  to  Mr.  George  Harlon,  jun.,  in  (he  Toniplo. 

"  "  1»  i-.M.— Mr.  George  Harlon,  jun.,  visited  tlio  earl  at  his  house 
in  Portman  Siiuare,  anil  remaliied'tili  12.10  a..m.  this  morning.' 

"  Now,  Sir  Henry,  we  come— please  note  what  1  am  going  to 
read— to  to-day : 

"'  7'iii'silai/.  Jul//  ist,  UM't  A.M.— Letliir  rccoivcd  at  Scotland 
Yard  from  Pollard  &  Pollard,  stating  that  the  missing  pa])ers  had 
been  foimd  mislaid  in  their  olltce,  withdrawing  the  advertisement, 
and  all  pursuit  after  Mr.  Uarton,  senior,  professedly  acting  lor  their 
client. 

"  '  11.4.").— The  Earl  of  Selby  calls  in  Scotland  Yard,  states  that 
llie  Kiirl  of  Tilbury,  having  come  to  himself,  had  identifletl  tho 
victim  in  Regent  CUrciis  as  Mr.  liarton,  repudiates  the  advertise- 
ment of  Pollard  &  Pollard,  and  directs  a  reward  of  £3000  to  be 
ollered  lor  the  recovery  ot  Mr.  Barton's  murderers. 

"  '  3  r.M.— Mr.  Charles  Pollard,  returning  from  his  place  in  the 
country,  where  he  had  gone  at  about  10.1.5  a.m.,  brings  back  to 
his  oHlce  a  bag— the  same  taken  doivn  on  Saturday,  and  apparently 
conlaiuing  the  same  contents  it  did  then. 

"  2.10  i-.M.— Pollard  lb  Pollard  retuso  to  givo  the  police  a  list  of 
the  documents  alleged  to  liavc  been  lost. 


>>   I'.M. 


-The  said  list  is  received  at  Scotland  Yard.' 


"  I  ouiiht  to  mention.  Sir  Ileniy,  that  no  communication  had 
taken  place  this  morning  between  the  earl  and  Pollard  &  Pollard 
previous  to  their  letter.  1  liavc  good  reason  to  tietieve  that  they  did 
not  know  ot  his  intention  to  oiler  that  reward,  and,  on  the  otuei 
hand,  he  did  not  know  the  bonds  and  other  papers  had  teen  found. 
Indeed,  the  earl  did  not  see  Pollard  until  nearly  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  after  naying  a  visit  at  JiOrd  Tilbury's  and  to  the  City. 
Now,  sir,  1  sent  on  Mr.  Garbctt  tor  a  list  of  those  documents  which 
the  two  Pollards  at  lirst  j)erymptorily  refused,  and  were  rather 
rough  on  Garbett;  but  tl.cy  sent  it  to  me  later  in  the  day,  and  1  have 
it  here." 

"  When  you  talk  of  a  bagful  of  documents,"  inquired  the  chief 
commissiouor,  "  do  you  refer  to  any  considerable  bulk?" 
.  "  1  rstur  to  BucU  a  bulk,  Sir  Uepry,  w  it  was  wttwly  impossible 


234 


A    WKKK    OK    1'AIS«10N. 


to  mislay.  Tlmt  is  (lurLeU's  oplulon.  wlio  mw  the  tw^  Mr.  Cli.irlcs 
Pom  r  I  ouir  eil  mul  ll.e  io(.iii  iu  wl.i<:li  It  wu8  hIIokc.I  the  paptTH 
hiSn  over  ookea.  Mo.c.vor.  rolhinls'  own  .•Icrk.  wl..«.o  .  u.y 
It  wtt^to  nnanK'o  tUc  pafors  In  that  room  every  ni^ht  an.  mDr..i..^^ 
"vers  that  they  coul.l  not  possihly  have  been  oyerlm.ko.l  the  • 
Why.  sir.  there  was  £55,000  in  United  Slates  bomis,  which  woulil 

"""Vhy'Virs^^^^^  the  chiet  commissioner,  «ravel>.  "  this 

in  Itself  U  very  suspicious.  A  deliberule  attempt  to  tasU-n  on  an 
nu^nt  man  a  ch.lr«eof  theft  of  property  which  «us  ull  the  t  me 
iu  their  own  posaeewion!  Whiit  pn  earth  can  it  mean  t  The  1  ol 
lanls  are  reKtirdetl  as  immaculate."  ,, 

••8^  was  Salon  on.c,  sir,  accordinK  to  Mr  .John  M  ton.  rci.lk.l 
Mr  SontaK.  "  Now,  when  you  add  to  this  little  s.ullle  the  circum- 
stuncVthal.  iu  lollowiuK'  up  Mr.  Charles  Pollard  int.;  such  a  nu.Kh- 
IwrhwHl  aslhat  of  W  appiug  at  a  late  hour  of  ninht  (whfu  and  where 
t^Sld  not "UbILIv  have  had  any  legitimate  business,  especially 
as  ho  went  disguised),  our  man.  McLaren,  has  "'nit'  <o  ,iriuf-mur- 
K  beyond  any  :,uesli«n-are  we  not  justitlc.l  In  ll.Mug  very 
stropR  s>i8piclou8  on  these  immaculate  geullemenV 

"  Notouly  that,  but  ia  taking  some acllon immediately,    cried  Sir 

"""llley  are  uudcr  strict  surveillance  already.  If  they  try  to  run 
away  they  will  be  slopped.  But  you  see.  sir,  we  have  three  weak 
Bpots  in  our  wise,  and  we  <larc  uot  move  against  such  people  as  the> 
a?e  on  mere  suspicion.  They  are  not  poor  devds  who  have  no 
money  or  character.  A  mistake  w^ould  ruin  us.  F.r.t  y,.u  oV 
aorve.  we  have  uo  actual  proof  that  Barton  was  murdered;  second. 
wo  have  no  proof  thai  the  papers  takeu  to  Kent  on  Saturday  vv.-n, 
toe  mpors  nfleged  to  have  been  stolen;  third,  we  have  no  proof  l^uil 
the  Sapors  broWit  fiom  Kent  were  the  papers  talien  thereon  Sat- 
iTrday-    And  :^ot  1  don't  suppose  you  have  a  shadow  of  doubt  what 

*^"S  the 'least.    But  what  conceivable  motive  was  there  for  all 

*^"  iS  mcked  my  bruins  till  they  ached  to  work  out  a  hypothe- 
eis.  You  see,  sir,  it  docs  uot  necessarily  point  to  uuy  complicity 
with  the  murder,"  said  Mr.  Soutiij;. 

"  Why  not?"  asked  the  commissioner. 

'•  They  removed  the  papers  the  second  day  after  the  murder. 
Had  they  done  so  the  day  it  occurre<l,  the  suspicion  would  have  been 
ovorwhelminp.  But  they  may  simply  be  dishouest  and,  learnlnfr 
ihat  the  only  man  who  had  any  knowledge  of  the  bomls  beluK  in  their 
posseBsion  was  dead,  they  miRht  have  thought  of  impounding  them: 
then,  on  reflection,  seeing  the  difficulty  of  doing  anything  with 
them,  they  may  have  reproduced  them." 

"No  Sontag,  that  won't  do.  I've  been  thinking  wliile  you 
spoke.  What  do  you  think  of  this?  They  trump  vy  a  charge 
against  the  dead  man  in  order  to  throw  us  off  the  sceut. 

Sontag  started.    It  was  the  flash  of  light  he  wanted.    He  thought 
a  minute,  and  then  said  doubtfully,  for  ho  never  liked  to  be  out- 
done in  sharpness  even  by  his  chief,  i,V^ 
'•  Y_e— es;  but  why,  then,  do  they  reproduce  tbern? 


^ 


)N. 

»ii\v  the  niifj  Mr.  Clmrlcs 
t  wuH  Hllot?eil  (ho  impcra 
owu  clcTk,  wlioHo  tluly 
rory  ni^ht  aiiil  muniiii^, 
boon  ovorl(M)kt'tl  llierc. 
tes  bomls,  which  woukl 

nlBslonor,  fjnivolj,  "  this 
lUcuipl  to  tiistfii  oil  an 
f  which  WUH  all  tlio  thiio 
cuu  it  mean?    Tliu  Pol- 

r.  John  Milton,"  replied 
,  litllcgliullli!  the  ciiciim 
olliird  into  sucli  ii  nui.nh- 
f  nielli  (when  iind  '.vliero 
mate  liuBintss,  cspeciiilly 
haa  come  to  jiiief— miir- 
justitidl  in  llxiug  vory 
lomenV" 
limiuciliiitely,"  cried  Sir 

judy.  If  they  try  to  run 
sir,  we  liave  tlirce  weak 
lainst  such  people  as  tliuy 
)or  devils  wlio  liave  no 
ruin  us.  Fir^t,  you  o'j- 
1  was  murdered;  second, 
Kent  on  Saturday  wcni 
rd,  we  have  no  proof  that 
iipcrs  taken  tliere  on  Siit- 
)  u  sliudoH  of  douljt  what 

J  motlvo  was  there  for  all 

id  to  work  out  a  hypothc- 
'  point  to  any  complicity 


il  day  after  tlic  murder, 
iispicion  would  have  been 
3  dishonest,  and,  learnintr 
of  the  bonils  being  in  tlieir 
jghtot  impounding  them; 
of  doing  anything   with 

)een  thinking  vrtiile  you 
They  tiump  up  a  charge 
I  off  thesceut. 
t  he  wanted.    He  thought 
he  never  liked  to  be  out- 


A    WKKK    OF    PAMIO)^. 


83r. 


Koducc  tliem?" 


J^ 


"  Rcpausc,  T  rxpoct  tliry  have  licurd  that  the  riroiis  mystidoatinn 
lias  8<>  tar  tailed  that  It  Is  known  that  llarton  was  the  vhtim,  and 
of  ooiirs(!  the-  (lUCMtlon  would  then  arise,  whore  are  the  liondsV  lint 
wliow  pnVerty  were  I  hey?" 

"The  list  (loos  not  siiy,"  replied  Mr.  Sontnir.  "Ilie  dmls  np- 
piar  Id  lie  i-ady  Tilltury's  Tlie  Ixmdii  would  tin  to  lionror.  It's 
Ii  curious  iiil.xture.  I  have  never  come  across  siicli  a  <oiiiplicalod 
case. '  * 

■  Well,  llie  Earl  of  Pcjlliy  could  tlirow  some  light  upon  it,"  »ald 
thecoinmlsslonor;  "or  perhaps  theCountossof  Tlllmryoi  her  son." 

"  I'.ut  there,  sir.  is  the  dlllkully;  the  earl  will  tell  nothing;  young 
jJartoii  Is  as  tight  as  a  nut.  lie  anil  llie  earl  liavo  heconie  re<'oiiciled 
since  liord  Tiliuiry  set  all  donlits  at  rest  Ity  his  declaration." 

"  is  the  earl  sincere?" 

"I  think  SO'  and  more  tlinn  Ihiit,  he  and  young  Rarton  to-day 
liolh  hiuti.'d  that  tliey  suspected  soniolmdy.  Rut  they  don't  seem 
inclined  to  trust  us  with  their  suspicions,  niul,  yon  may  dep«!nd 
upon  it.  then;  Is  one  of  those  family  seciels  Involvijd  in  this  Imsi- 
ness  which  myslilles  the  whole  matter,  and  which,  unless  wo  look 
out  very  sharply,  will  lead  to  a  falluio  of  justico.  The  carl  may  Iw 
traying  to  l>uy  over  young  Rarton  to  keep  tlic  flccrcl." 

At  Oils  moment  a  smart  policeman  enlereil  the  cabinet  witli  ii 
card.  The  commissioner  glanced  at  it  in  surprise,  and  handed  It  to 
Ids  sutmr'linate,  who  elevated  his  eyebrows. 

".Say  nolliing,"  fluid  the  commissioner  to  tlie  otlicr  In  German; 
"  let  him  do  all  the  talking."  Then,  turning  to  tlie  man,  he  said  in 
EnRliah.  "  Ask  the  earl  to  come  in." 

The  peer  entered  with  his  habiliial  easy,  dignified  manner,  but  tlie 
two  great  policemen,  wlio  Instinctively  looked  up  to  read  his  face, 
saw  that  he  had  some  grave  IntelHgcnco  to  communicate. 

"  1  must  apologize.  Sir  Henry, '^  he  said,  "  for  trouliling  you  at 
so  late  an  hour;  indeed,  1  hardly  expected  1  should  be  so  fortunate 
as  to  see  you." 

"  We  have  no  night  oi  day  in  this  office,  said  the  commissioner, 
smiling.  "  and  wc  were  just  engaged  in  discussing  the  (luestion  of 
youi  agent's  murder  as  you  came  in.  1  wish.  earl,  you  could  throw 
some  further  light  on  the  case,  tor  it  is  very  obscure." 

•'  My  object  in  seeking  yon  at  such  an  unseasonable  houi,"  said 
the  peer,  "  isto  make  a  cltwi  breast  of  all  I  know,  lest,  tlirongh  my 
silence,  there  should  bo  a  failure  of  justico.  1  must  tell  you  Irankly 
1  am  placed  In  a  very  delicate  and  even  a  very  ciitical  position  by 
what  1  am  aliout  to  te'l  you;  and  It  was  not  until  late  last  night,  or 
lather  early  this  morning,  tliat  my  suspicions  were  aroused  and  di- 
rected against  the  iwrsons  whom  I  am  going  to  indicate  to  you." 

"  Indeed!"  said  the  commissioner,  with  interest,  while  Mr.  Son- 
tag  peered  at  the  earl  with  evident  excitement. 

•'Yes,"  continued  the  peer,  "  and  1  am  ashamed  to  say  that  my 
own  relations  with  the  persons  at  whom  our  suspicions  point  are  of 
a  nature  to  compromise  me  seriously,  not  in  regard  to  this,  but  to  a 
previous  matter,  which  1  tear— and  I  grieve  to  say  it— has  led  up 
to  this  horrible  <fenoMcwMin(."  ,      ,, 

The  commissioner  stared  at  the  earl  with  surprise,  and  said,  po- 
litely, ' 


A   \vi;i;k   oi'   i-ashiok. 

"  r<.rl   1  m-cil  nol  ruutloii  »<>  oNprrlcnccil  ii  iimt-lMlriilc  un.l  iilalc«- 
miinVw  y.m'Uliml  ii.ukiMKMU.yUlHrloBUix'H  lulnilul^^^ 

^''-'iflnnnl  lu-.-.-.B.uv,  Sir  llunry.'  n'l.lii'.l  tl.o  enrl.  with  a  crim 

gmil-      ■•Tlo  «i..ry  WhlH.  I  u.n  uolnu'  to  loll  s'-i  is  on-  vx^ Lie h  I 

n  .vUi.ll  «l.rnk  ffou.  coiilWlinK  to  .my  l.unm.i  n.ii.L'.  an.l  still  I.'M 

?Uc  c  rR    I  ili..sf  wUoaro  oi.l'u^hI  in  th.^  vin.l.rat.on  of  ,  ust  cp 

I       a  P'  Hon.1  a.ul  lan.ilv  Hccr.a;  It  .•.■late.,  to  a  VanHarl.on     o       y 

,  jl   o    «l.lch  1  ai.i  profouiully  aii.l  l.carllly  asliarnrd.     In  Ic  II  .K 

1,'vou       laccin  y.mr  luuulsn.y  r.-putalion.  my  honor    an.l  t  .« 

«.   H-        ni    \  an.l  Imppincss  ot  n.any  otii.r  persons,  but  in  the  in- 

I'rcBlonuHiice,  at  whaluvcr  cost  to  n.yself.  I  can  no  lon^.r  lu.-p 

""ThrVarl  leaned  hU  head  on  his  hand,  and  tl.o  two  men  could  sw, 
that  lu- waHnmHt<.'iluKaoniui)OWcrlul  emotion. 

••Mv  lord.'bald  the  chief  .ommUsloner.  "no  one  con  d  .iu.iKe 
more  elearlv  than  vouiself  l.elween  the  ..ireii.nstane.-s  which  w..ul. 
S'to  coL  cryou,  however  remotely,  v.ith  a.ts  o  a  cnmmal 
•h  a  UT  a  d  inaturs  which  have  become  mixed  up  ^^  th  such  acts 
a  1  which  thoiiL'h  nolo!  a  crhninal  cluir.icler.  Ills  .llsa>;reeal.l.'  or 
cvl  Vom,  roinisliiK  tor  yoti  to  .liseioso.  In  the  lormer  case  we  eouhl 
noUisk  vo  t osay  unylh  nj-;  in  the  latl.T  wo  can  olTci  you  the  Hsgur^ 
So  tin  t  othin«  you  divulge  shall  ever  pass  ihese  wa  s  «.r  Im  usml 
2x  -001  in  a  manner  to  shluhl  you  from  any  ui. pleasant nesfl. 

n  expec  "d  nothinsj  less  of  your  ,liscretion  and  Koo.l-feel in^  Wr 
Ilenrv   i^nd  akc  it  for  Kranle.l  that  1  may  e.,tially  rely  o.j  that  of  Mr 
Se  "-the  latter  Lowed-"  hut  I  assure  you  that  wlu^n   1  can.e 
ClwaB  prepared  tr>  <lo  my  .lut^y  and  lace  the  consequences  with- 

"'!,„t"S  tr  uSpr'SarinUing  the  cup  of  repentance  to 

thcDdveS.  <orce.l  himself  to  tell  the  story  of  his  errors  and  o 

t  at  to  which  they  Imd  led,  adding  the  circumstances  which  had 

con  e  to  h  8Vnowle.lgo  through  George  IJarton  s  son      The  w<) 

men    I  stened   to  this  remarkable  confession  wltli  rapt  attention. 

Wldle  he  spolce  the  .Irama   gradually  assumed  torm    color,  pro- 

cisioD  in  Mr   Sontag's  brain,  until,  as  the  earl  closed  his  recital,  tiio 

Lrrcat  detective  leaped  to  his  feet  and  cried  out, 
grcai^ieiccuvc^i^^j^^^    We  have  theml    It  Is  as  clear  as  noonday. 

Wp  must  have  ft  warrant  for  llielr  Immediate  arrest." 

Tire  lelSvc  was  always  in  the  ascendant  with  Mr.  Hontng  who 
it  he  were  08  he  had  said  once  before,  an  aitist.  had  no  time  to 
wasteTsen^men  %nd  in  fact  seldom  wasted  it  either  in  that  or  in 
rvr^pathv  He  was  too  familiar  with  the  worst  weaknesses  ot 
Sni  V  to  1  ave  any  high  opinion  of  men,  too  concentrated  on  the 
b™8S0t  defection  and  conviction  to  have  nuu^i  nicety  In  regard 
to  the  feelings  of  those  who  were  the  objects  or  the  means  ot  his 
skil  fu  lan^m  His  mind,  therefore,  wh  e  the  p.^ 

w,  8  SDcak ing  had  been  fixed  on  the  aim  which  he,  as  Chief  o  he 
Detective  Department  ot  Police,  had  In  view-the  solution  of  the 
niS  Circurmvstery.  The  comndssioner,  on  the  contrary,  who 
S°v  nature  of  a  less  philosophic  and  more  chivalrous  nature. 
:idleL"hKot  lost  a  wo?d..  and'  was  «xinK  .jlHl.o.i-^^^^^  -  ';  ^J.^y 
the  earl  in  a  singularly  tenaciouH  memory,  could  not  help  apprcUM 


I»K. 

II  nm(;l.Mlrftl(i  uinl  «lali'« 
•iiU'uliiled  to  coiiipniinlm) 

« 
[■(I  tho  i-arl,  Willi  n  crim 
Id)  \"il  is  OIK'   vx'liicli   1 
until  in'intr.  and  still  I<'H« 
H'  viiiilicalioii  of  jiislu'c. 

to  a  irunHai.Uoii.  lor  my 
lly  iisliaincd.  In  telling' 
ion,  my  lionor,  ami  tlut 
r  persons,  liiit  in  tin;  iii- 
If,  I  can  no  longer  kei'p 

il  llio  two  men  cou!<l  swi 

on. 

•r,  "  no  one  conUl  ,iu<l>,'o 

I'liiiistanci's  wliicli  woiiltl 

V.  illi  acts  nt  a  criminal 
inlxwl  up  ^^llll  siicli  acts, 
cler,  It  is  (llHanrL'calil'i  or 

lilt-  lormcr  ciisu  we  could 
D  can  olT(ir  you  tlic  HsBiir- 
isH  llicso  walls,  or  Ito  used 

nil  pleasantness." 
lion  and  v,'ood-feelinL',  Sir 
iiually  rely  on  that  of  Mr. 

0  you  that  wlifn  1  came 
30  llio  consequences  willi- 

tho  cup  of  repentnnco  to 
story  of  his  errors  and  of 
el  re  u  instances  which  had 

1  IJarton's  son.  The  two 
sion  with  rapt  lUtention. 
ssuined  torni,  color,  prc- 
eaii  closed  his  rccitiil,  the 

out. 

It  Is  as  clear  as  noonday, 
ate  arrest." 

nt  with  Mr.  Hontnfi.  who, 
in  aitiat,  had  no  time  to 
astcd  it  either  in  that  or  in 

the  worst  weaknesses  ot 
sn,  too  concentrated  on  the 
iiive  much  nicety  in  rcfrard 
lijccts  or  the  means  ot  his 
I,  therefore,  while  the  peer 

which  he,  ns  Cliiet  ot  the 

view— the  solution  of  the 
iner,  on  the  contrary,  who 
id  more  chivalrous  nature, 
iinjj  all  tlio  facts  relate(t  by 
y,  could  not  help  uppreciat- 


A    WKKK    OK    PA  SHI  OH. 


In"  mill  •vrnpnllii/in!;  wllli  tlie  pain  Hint  siirli  a  dcclnrallon  ,!':»vr  in 
IiIh  di-'iiii|.'iiiMlicil  visitor. 

"  May,  Soiitai;,"  hi'  Hiiid,  spi'iiUliit;  In  a  L-ciille  tone,  us  he  east  n 
deim'valinK  Klanee  nt  his  Hiilinriliiiiilc,  "  will  ymi  kimlly  sit  down  a 
liioimiit,  ntid  let  ui  ask  Ills  lorilslilp.  wlin  Iiiih  IiiIiI  iim  iindir  so  dee|> 
nil  ■il)lii;iitioii  liy  this  icveliilion,  wlii-ilier  tlicte  U  any  line  of  action 
111"  wisjii's  lo  Hiiirnest — any  wliirh  oieiirs  to  him  ii'<  llie  hest  for  In- 
siiiiiiii  (he  piinlMlinieiit  id  the  erlme  wlillc  avolijim;  tin' exposure 
which  Ills  own  voluniary toparallon  Ims  rcndenil  uiiiiei'cMMiiry Y  Nay, 
my  lord,  torj,'ive  nii',  we  owe  you  lliis  nt  lenst  lor  siicli  liilp  as  this; 
lor  wilhoiit  II  our  eon  jretiires  would  have  li^'en  vain.  llcHldes,"  he 
aitdcd  to  Honlii;:,  "  you  surely  have  nol  overlooked  the  fact  that 
even  yet  a  link  is  iiiiMfiiiif.''.'  Nelllier  of  the  I'ollaids,  llioiii;h  they 
may  lie  llio  iirliiei|)uls  In  this  intamoiis  plot,  was  the  inillvliliial  who 
iietiiiilly  prepareil  iIk-  ti>r|u>tli)  uiid  placed  it  on  Mr.  Haiton's  person. 
Vo'i  have  n<t  dew  whatever  to  the  inlerineiliate  nucnt  or  agents  of 
the  murder." 

"  I  M[ipieciiile  vour  good  leelini;,  HIr  Henry,"  said  llie  carl,  oiler- 
liii;  his  hand  to  ilie  eoinnilssioner,  "  and  Ihiiiik  you." 

"  Ves,  lint  pardon  me,  my  lord,  and  Mr.  ('ominiHsioner,"  said 
Sontajj,  with  Ills  eye  still  on  the  main  pnipose  of  his  llioiightM. 
"  We  can  at  once  have  them  arrested  on  I  lie  cliarue  of  loigery,  and 
that  will  assist  ns  in  gettini;  tlio  tM  ideniie  \«(!  reipiirc  in  the  murder 
cas(\"  °- 

"  ,N(.,  Mr.  8onlnu'."  said  the  cnrl.  "  Forgive  7)ie;  1  can  not  aj^reo 
to  that,  1  well  undeisland  your  an.xiiMv  to  catch  Imse  men— H  docs 
yon  eri'dit  ns  an  active  and  able  olllrer — liiit  you  must  scie,  alter 
what  I've  just  told  you,  that  it  docs  not  lie  wllli  me  to  acciiso  or  to 
punish  Iheiii  for  their  sins  aualnsl  mo.  The  eonsi  (piences  of  those 
jiersonal  wronns  I  have  determined  to  sulfer,  willioiit  taking  any 
steps  to  avenge  them,  liecaiiso  in  once  nllowlni:  myself  to  take  the 
Innellt  of  the  wronj! -doing  of  these  men  1  have  made  il  ten  times  my 
own.  My  ohject  in  coining  hero  is  not  to  obtain  a  personal  repara- 
tion, it  is  to  prevent  two  criminals  escaping  from  tlie  penally  duo 
for  n  blacker  and  more  hideous  crime." 

Mr.  Honing  Involuntarily  gave  a  slight  elevation  of  the  shoulder.') 
which,  under  any  oilier  circumstances,  would  have  co^t.  him  an 
angry  look  from  the  earl,  who,  liowever,  was  in  no  humor  to  resent 
nny  ot  those  mortilicatioiis  which  were  the  natural  ami  inevitable 
resnlls  of  his  i)0,silion.  lie  simply  turned  to  the  commissioner  and 
added, 

"  lUit  you  need  not  let  them  escape.  You  must  liave  lliiim  closely 
watched  until  you  can  get  the  clew  you  want  to  establish  their  con- 
nection Willi  the  crime." 

"  Oh,  that  is  Ijiiing  done,"  said  tlie  chief  detective,  dryly.  "  They 
will  not  be  allowed  to  quit  the  kingdom;  but  I  should  certainly  pre- 
fer to  have  them  l)etween  four  stone  walls,  and  1  say  nothing  ought 
to  lie  allowe<l  to  prevent  ns  from  se<;uring  them." 

A  quick  anger  shot  into  tlic  peer's  eyes,  but  ho  instantly  mas- 
tered it. 

"  Mr.  Sontng,"  lie  said.  In  n  quiet,  dignified  tone,  "  1  do  you  tlio 
justice  to  Itelievc  that  it  you  were  in  my  position  you  would  act 
precisely  aa  1  am  doing.    Command  all  my  resources,  my  time,  my 


# 


IS 


S38 


A    WKRK    OP    TASSrOlf. 


iiilollisjrnro  such  na  it,  is— and  in  tlm  lust  resort  ovnn  mv  ropntiition 
— lor  iIkv  ends  of  jiislirc^— iinytliini;  cxoi'iit  to  pul  nii!  forward  as 
Bcckiti^  It)  pimiNli  liio  ilL'lin(|iiint'ies  of  Hit!  niiscrahio  men  wlio  liave 
once  licen  the  iii^cnls  of  my  own  wrongful  acts.  But,  Sir  Henry," 
la*  said,  turning  to  the  coniniissioncr  and  givinj;  him  his  hand,"  I 
must  not  kt'cp  you  from  llic  urgent  hu&iness  you  liaw  in  liand,  and 
my  daughter  is  waltinu;  hclow.  »Si)nre  no  expense.  Tclegrapli  to  all 
the  ports  to  prevent  any  evasion ;  they  will  lie  as  clever  in  their  crim- 
inality as  they  liave  lieen  in  their  business.     Oowl-niglit." 

He  bowed  with  politeness,  hut  dignity,  to  Mr  fSontag. 

"  JMy  loid,"  said  the  latter,  taking  u  step  forsvard,  as  liis  clouded 
face  assumed  a  brighter  expression,  touched  and  refined  by  some 
secret  feeling,  "  may  I  shake  hands  with  you?" 

Tlio  earl  gave  liis  hand  cordially  but  gravely,  and  accompanied  by 
the  commissioner  lei*.  t).e  room.  \Vhon  his  chief  returned,  he  looked 
at  Air.  Sontag  with  a  curious,  intpiiring  glance,  'liie  detective  ap- 
pearcil  to  be  a  little  ashamed  of  his  sudden  betrayal  of  leeling. 

"The  earl,"  he  said,  with  a  slight  laugh,  which  was  evidently 
forced,  "  is  greater  in  the  liour  of  liis  deepest  humiliation  than  any 
man  1  ever  saw  in  the  height  of  an  untainished  integrity." 

"  You  are  a  (|ueer  fellow,  Soiilag,"  said  the  commissioner,  smil- 
ing, "  1  see  that  underneath  your  philosophic  calm  and  stern  oifiicial- 
isni  you  conceal  .some  deep  fountains  of  sentiment — very,  very  deeji 
down,  1  fear;  but  in  this  case  1  sympathize  with  you.  It  is  not 
often  that  you  and  1,  with  all  our  cxpeiience,  get  such  an  insight 
into  s'lc'i  ;  '^liaracter  as  that." 

"Au.  c  is  not  often  tliat  a  liad  secret  deserves  to  lie  so  well 
kept,  replied  Snntag.  "But  tlieie  is  midnight  striking,  and  no 
word  from  Garbett.  That  fellow  litis  a  nose  like  a  likwid-hound ;  1 
believe  he  really  docs  smell  a  criminal  when  lie  i>a88es  him.  He 
saw  some  fellow  to-day  in  Ijincoln's  Inn  Fields— a  certain  Captain 
Yates— gambler,  turfman,  blackleg,  rnve — everything  a  man  can  be 
tliat's  liad,  and  still  swagger  about  as  a  '  ireiilleman,'  ay,  and  in 
j^enllemen's  society,  too — who  is  already  in  our  black-books,  and 
has  been  sisjnalized  to  us  from  France  and  Helgiuin  as  liavim:  had 
some  siisiiieious  relations  with  criminals,  though  lie  has  hitherto 
managed  to  keep  on  the  right  side  of  the  hedge." 

"  What,  Vates  of  the  Colorado  business?"  imiuirod  Sir  Henry. 

"The  very  same,"  replied  Sonlag.  "Well,  seeiny  him  today 
in  such  close  proximity  to  rollards"  offices,  an  idea  Blriick  (iarlK-tt, 
and  he  asked  me  to  let  him  go  and  make  some  intpiiries  about  this 
{Jicntleman.  He  started  off  at  five  o'clock,  and  1  have  not  lieard  r.f 
him  since.  He  must  have  got  hold  ot  somelliing  serious,  for  he 
never  wastes  his  lime." 

"  1  hope  he  will  be  more  fortunate  than  poor  McLaren." 

"  Ah!  a  good  man,  too,  but  inclined  to  be  rash.  Garbett,  like  a 
good  general,  never  moves  without  protecting  his  rear.  He  is  well 
armed.  1  h»ve  no  tear  of  him.  But  my  curiosity  will  keep  until 
to-morrow  morning." 

Though  Mr.  Ponlag  spoke  so  confidently,  w^e  shall  see  that,  in 
tact,  it  did  not  keep  so  long  even  as  that. 


PASSTOtr. 

!!  last  resort  even  mv  reputdtion 
H  except  to  pul  me  torwanl  as 
lilt  the  miserable  men  wlio  have 
ion,i;tul  acts.  But.  Sir  Henry," 
■r  iind  givinj;  liim  his  liami,  '"  I 
Imsiness  you  have  iu  liaml,  and 
ire  no  expense.  Telejirapli  (o  all 
ley  will  be  as  clever  in  tlieii  crim- 
iisiness.  Oood-niiiht." 
ignity,  to  Mr  SiMila^. 
1!^  a  "step  forward,  as  bis  clonded 
on,  1o\ul>ed  and  relined  by  some 
8  wilb  youf" 

but  firavely,  and  accompanied  by 
'ben  his  chief  rrfiirned,  he  looked 
lirini;  glance.  The  detective  ap- 
i  sudden  betrayal  of  leeling. 
f^lit  laiii,'!),  wliicli  was  evidently 
liis  deepest  humiliation  than  any 

1  untarnished  integrity." 

.<:,"  said  the  commissioner,  fiinil- 
ibilosophic  calm  and  stern  oflicial- 
ins  of  sentiment— very,  very  decji 
sympathize  with  you.  It  is  not 
r experience,  get  snch  an  insight 

bad  secret  deserves  to  be  so  well 
liere  is  midnight  striking,  and  no 

has  a  nose  )il;e  a  blood-bound ;  1 
ininal  when  iie  passes  him.  lie 
I's  Inn  Fields-a  certain  Captain 
'.a,  rove — everything  a  man  can  be 
lu't  as  a  ■  L'entlcman,'  ay,  and  in 

already  iu  our  black-books,  and 
'ranee  and  Helginm  as  bavins:  had 
riminals,  though  lie  has  hitherto 

2  of  the  hedge." 

business?"  imiuirod  Sir  Ilcnry. 
ntag.     "  Well,  seeini?  him  today 
Is"  oflices,  an  idea  struck  (Jarbell, 
nd  make  some  incpiiries  about  this 

3  o'clock,  and  I  have  not  beard  r.t 
hold  ot  something  serious,  tor  he 

date  than  poor  McLaren." 
iclined  to  l)e  rash.     Garbett,  like  a 
ut  protecting  his  rear.    He  is  wel 
But  my  curiosity  will  keep  until 

confidently,  we  shall  see  that,  iu 
OS  that. 


A    WEEK.    01'    PASSION.  5^39 


CIIAPTEU  XX. 

TWO  BlTTHIl  DISAI'l'OINTMKNTS. 

At  about  the  same  hour  that  the  Earl  of  Selby  was  sitting  in  the 
cabinet  which  is  the  lively  center  of  the  discovery  and  prevenliou  of 
crime  among  four  millions  of  ncople,  two  men  landeil  in  Gravesend 
Iroiii  the  steam  ferry-boat,  having  crossed  from  1  ilbury.  The  very 
name  ot  that  place  must  have  awakened  in  their  minds  some  bitter 
relleclions.  They  had  come  down  from  Ijow  third-class  by  the  rail- 
way. Their  garb  was  that  of  mechanics  returning  late  from  work, 
which  had  left  many  a  foul  mark  on  their  bauds  and  faces.  One. 
the  younger  and  taller  of  the  two.  carried  over  his  shoulder  a  plaited 
straw  basket,  from  which  protruded  the  handles  of  some  well-used 
plumber's  tools.  Over  the  right  arm  of  the  other  was  a  coil  of  lea(l 
piping  ot  small  diameter,  and  ho  carried  in  his  left  hand  a  piece  of 
iron  gas  pipe  about  si.x  feet  long.  Both  these  men  wore  old.  greasy 
fell  liats  pulled  well  over  their  faces,  and  the  t:dler  smoked  a  short, 
clay  pipe.  The  elder  of  the  two  had  a  grisly  beard,  which  looked 
as  if  it  had  been  both  smoked  and  singed  iu  the  course  of  his  labor. 
Iu  a  blight  light  it  would  have  been  dillicultto  distinguish  their  feat- 
ures; ill  the  d'inginess  of  Gravescud  gas  it  was  impossible  to  identify 
them,  as  they  furtively  turned  down  a  meet  to  the  left  running  par- 
allel with  the  river-bank.  Iveeping  close  together,  they  conversed  in 
low  ufonosyllables  or  hasty  whispers,  although  tlierc  appeared  to  be 
no  danger  ot  their  being  overheard  by  the  two  or  three  persons  who 
could  be  discerned  iu  the  street.  As  the  reader  will  have  guessed, 
the  linn  ot  Pollard  &  Pollard,  having  decided  on  a  "  new  depart- 
ure," was  hidden  beneath  this  clever  disguise. 

The  manner  in  vvhicb  they  had  evaded  the  detectives,  who  were 
spying  every  motion,  was  cieditable  to  the  genius  of  Mr.  Charles 
Pollard.  The  two  men,  at  about  b\\  o'clock,  had  driven  iua  hapsoni 
to  Ml.  Charles's  liouse  in  Queen's  Ga'.e.  as  if  to  dine  there— and 
there  they  dined.  They  were  closely  followed  by  the  four  detect- 
ives who  statioued  themselves  iu  front  ot  the  house,  and,  fearing  to 
betray  their  presence  or  e.xcite  suspicion  by  perambulating  the  long 
paved  mews  wliich  ran  behind  the  houses  facing  on  Queen's  Gate, 
narrowly  watched  the  only  outlet  at  the  end.  Each  house  connected 
with  its  own  stables.  Charles  Pollard  directed  that  the  brougham 
should  be  prepared  at  eight  o'clock;  and  at  the  last  moment,  just 
before  it  was  about  to  be  pulled  out  ot  the  coach-house,  to  be  har- 
nessed to  the  horses,  he  entered  it  with  his  uncle,  drew  up  tlie 
wooden  blinds  with  which  it  was  provided;  and  pulled  down 'lie 
silken  onts  within,  making  it  impossible  for  any  eye  to  penetrate 
the  interior.  There  was  no  warrant  out  against  them;  and  even  if 
they  were  being  watched,  the  police  would  hardly  venture  to  exam- 
ine Itie  carriage  in  leaving  the  mews.  He  had  taken  his  coacbmun 
aside,  and  to  the  surprise  of  the  man  slipped  a  five  pound  note  into 
his  hand.  ,    .  .    ■      .. 

"  Jeffrey,"  lie  said,  "  you  know,  ot  course,  that  we  arc  trjing  to 


840 


A     WKKK    OK    I'ASSION. 


find  out  whiit  1ms  bceoinc  of  llmt  Mr.  narloii,  Lord  Selby's  intiu  ot 
hiisiucss,  who  run  away  the  ollujr  day?" 
Tlie  niim  who  lind  surved  the  father  ot  his  i)rc8cut  muster  uoddcd, 

"Y(S,  sir."  ,.,...  , 

"  Well,  we  have  had  some  important  news  about  him  to  day,  and 
wc  are  promised,  il  wo  go  to  a  ceitaiii  place  to-niyht,  that  wo  shall 
lind  a  man  who  linows  where  the  money  anil  pajiers  are,  but  docsu  t 
want  to  be  known;  and  we  have  to  act  very  cautiously,  you  know, 
eo  that  no  one  sliall  get  wind  of  it." 
Tlie  man  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  thing  at  once. 
"  1  see,  Fir,"  he  said.     "  You  want  to  see  him,  secret-like.' 
", lust  80.    But  you  know  ISailon  ran  oft  with  a  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds?"  .,,.,,„  II  ,1 
•'  A  huu  derd-thou-sand  pounds,  sn?"  said  .leflreys,  slowly,  wilh 
eyes  that  showed  liow  hard  it  was  for  his  brain  to  realize  the  im- 
mensity of  such  a  sum.    "  D'ye  say  so,  sir?"           ,    ,  ,    ,, 

"  Yes;  and  very  clever  and  cunning  folks  lie  had  to  help  him,  and 
it  takes  all  my  wit  to  circumvent  them.    But  we'll  do  it,  JelTrey, 

we'll  do  it  yet!"  ,       , !  ,  «  ,       , 

"  Oh  there  ain't  no  doubt  about  you,  sir,"  said  Jeflrey,  glancing 
at  his  master  with  some  pride.     "  It  any  one  cau  do  it  you  will." 

•'  Well,  Jefirey,  this  man  we're  going  to  see  to-nighi,  you  know, 
tells  us  lliesc  fellows  may  suspect  we  have  some  news,  aail  it  is  very 
likely  they're  watching  us  now.  Have  you  seen  any  suspicious- 
looking  men  aboutV"  ,,      •. 

"  Why,  sir,"  cried  Jeffrey,  his  face  clearing  with  a  sudden  idea, 
"  Lord  James  Mulville's  coachman  were  only  just  nsaying  to  me, 
when  you  called  me  up,  that  two  fellows  looking  like  bailiffs  had 
been  a-loping  about  tlie  end  of  the  mews  tor  the  last  hour  and  a 
half  and  he  asked  inc  if  1  knew  ot  any  one  in  trouble  along  our  row, 
sir.  '  ]«el)l)e  they're  tlie  very  chaps  you  mean'i" 

Chailes  Pollard's  eyelids  trembled  a  moment,  but  he  answered 

cahnly,  .       ,        .,  ,, 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder.  Anyhow,  we  must  act  ns  if  they  were. 
Have  the  liorses  harnessed  all  ready.  My  uncle  and  1  will  get  into 
the  brougham  in  the  stable,  and  pull  up  the  Venetians;  then  no  one 
can  see  inside.  Then  vou  draw  out  the  carriage  into  tlie  mews,  put 
in  the  horses  as  (luick  as  you  can,  and  get  on  the  seat  by  yourself. 
Send  Till  off  somewhere  on  a  message.  If  those  men  should  ask 
you  any  ouestion  about  where  you're  going,  just  say  you  are  taking 
the  brougham  for  Mrs.  Pollard  to  Victoria  Station,  then  drive  like 
the  deuce.  Cut  across  Westminster  Bridge,  and  get  down  that  side 
of  tlie  river  to  Tooky  Street,  where  you  will  drop  iis-we  have  to 
meet  the  man  in  t»iat  neighborhood— and  tlien  you  come  straight 
home  Now,  .leflrey,  this  is  a  very  important  matter  tor  us;  not  a 
word  to  a  soul,  and  have  everything  ready  in  half  an  hour;  and  it 
we  catch  Barton,  I'll  see  you  get  part  of  the  reward.    D  ye  under- 

^  "^"oh  yi'S,  s5r,  you'ff  see.    I'll  manage  it,"  cried  .Teftrey;  and  the 
maneuver  was  executed  to  the  letter.  .  ,    . .. 

As  the  carriage  passed  out  of  the  yard  two  detectives  peered  at  it 
flharply.  but  it  was  quite  impossible  to  penetrate  its  secret.  They 
liaa  watcbeil  Irotu  tUe  eud  ot  the  mows  lUo  operaliQit  ot  putlint  iu 


Lord  Scll)y'8  intiu  ot 

resent  mnslur  uoddctl, 

ibout  him  to  day,  and 
lo-niglit,  tbat  wo  shall 
tapers  are,  but  doesn't 
;uutiou9ly,  you  know, 

at  once. 

m,  Bcoret-like." 

with  a  Inmdrcd  thou- 

.Icflreys,  slowly,  wilh 
)raiu  to  realize  the  im- 

c  baa  to  help  him,  and 
t  we'll  do  it,  Jeffrey, 

said  Jeflrey,  glancing 
can  do  it  you  will." 
•e  to-nigbt,  you  know, 
ne  news,  and  it  is  very 
1  seen  any  suspicious- 

ig  with  a  sudden  idea, 

y  just  nsaying  to  nie, 

)okiDg  like  bailiffs  had 

ur  tlie  last  hour  and  a 

1  trouble  along  our  row, 

•i" 

lent,  but  he  answered 

3t  act  08  if  Ihey  were. 
Qc'e  and  1  will  get  into 
Venetians;  then  no  one 
age  into  tlie  mews,  put 
)u  the  seat  by  yourself, 
those  men  should  ask 
just  say  you  are  taking 
Station,  then  drive  like 
and  get  down  that  side 
I  drop  us— we  have  to 
lien  you  come  straight 
ut  matter  tor  us;  not  a 
in  half  an  hour:  and  it 
3  reward.    D'ye  under- 

'  cried  Jeffrey ;  and  the 

detectives  peered  at  it 
itratc  its  secret.  They 
operation  ot  putting  iu 


A    WEEK    OF    I'ASSION. 


241 


the  horses;  Ihey  had  seen  the  brougham  pulled  out  of  the  coacli- 
liouse,  and  were  certain  no  one  had  entered  it  while  it  stood  in  tlio 
yard.  However,  as  it  ])as$ed  them  rapidly,  one  ot  them  throw  up 
his  tinger  to  the  coachman  and  called  out, 

"  Are  you  Lord  Miilville's  coachman?" 

"  No,"  shouted  Jeffrey,  shortly,  "  I'm  Mrs.  Pollard's.  What  tho 
devil  is  that  to  you?"  And  giving  his  horses  the  whip,  he  was 
round  the  corner  in  a  moment. 

The  men  looked  after  the  carriacc  with  suspicious  glances,  and 
that  feeling  ot  doubt  which  is  intuitional  in  a  detective.  One  of 
them  ran  round  to  consult  tlie  two  coadjutors  who  were  walking  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  street  in  front  of  Mr.  tUiarles  I'ollard's 
liouse. 

"  Oh!"  said  the  oldest  of  the  parly,  "  tliey  could  hardly  be  in  the 
carriage;  they  were  out  on  that  l)alcony  Einoking  only  ten  minutea 
ago.  Still,  it's  not  a  bad  idea  to  follow  it  up.  Tliey  may  be  send- 
ing a  message  to  .some  one,  you  know,  'Gaii!  he's  gone  round  tho 
corner  already.  Hun  down  and  take  llial  hansom  that's  standing  at 
CrDiiiwell  Hoad,  and  see  where  coachee  goes  to." 

Hut  from  the  upper  end  of  (iuten's  Gate  to  Cromwell  Uoad  is  a 
giwd  long  step,  and  before  our  detective  could  reach  a  hiinsom  the 
brougliam  was  far  down  the  road,  and,  turning  down  to  Chelsea  by 
the  Metropolitan  Station  at  South  Kensington  and  Pelhain  Place, 
liad  rendered  it  impossible  to  the  shuipest  detective  iu  the  w.orld  to 
follow  its  course. 

From  Tooley  Street  the  two  men  had  found  their  way  to  Mr. 
('Iiarleb  Pollard's  useful  retreat  In  the  Eaft-enil,  where  they  assumed 
two  workmen  disguises  which  he  had  used  betore,  and  which  were, 
indeed,  almost  impenetrable.  Tlie  bag  of  tools  was  already  tliere; 
but  on  their  way  down  the  Bow  Uoad  they  had,  at  Cliarles's  sugges- 
tion, gone  into  a  plumber's  sh  i)      >d  bought  tlie  piping. 

Thus  they  were  on  their  wnv  li'  the  yacht,  Hhen  they  had 
shaken  themselves  free  of  the  .     dio  had  ciossed  in  the  boat, 

and  proceeded  about  two  bun-  '  .Is  or  so,  ilie  younger  swung 

round  and  cast  a  sharp  glance  up  ilic  street. 

"  Any  one  coining V"  said  the  other,  in  a  voice  shaky  with 
an.xiely. 

"  No,"  replied  his  companion.  "  Quick!  Down  lo  the  left,  and 
then  lo  the  righl." 

And  away  they  went  rapidly,  the  elder  panting  painfully  for 
brentli. 

At  lenijth  the  taller  one  turned  down  to  a  row  of  two-story  houses 
whidi  faced  the  water,  and  in  front  of  which  a  small  wooden  jetty 
extended  into  the  river,  with  a  few  boats  mnored  alongside  it. 

'•  She  should  be  lying  out  therealiouts,"  said  Charles  Pollard, 
peering  eagerly  over  the  water.  The  night  was  clear,  though  there 
was  no  moon. 

A  small  vessel  or  two  was  moored  out  iu  the  stream,  but  no 
steamer  was  to  lie  seen,  either  up  or  down  the  river,  excepting  a 
lar^O  vessel  which  was  slowly  steamiiig  up  against  the  tide,  and 
whose  liuge  bulk  concealed  a  laiure  stretch  of  the  river.  "  He  must 
have  moved  her  down,"  he  muttered.  "  D — a  it,  it  ja  YOXAtiousI 
Uowevvr,  kt's  uo  iu  and  (jet  iii«  o-xplanulion." 


2.^2  A    AVKEK    01'    I'ASSION. 

by  (Iftylinht  could  luivc  been  °\a(  e  out  a  10%"  «  ,  ^^  ^^^^ 

l.fo  cuiicature  of  three  ''»S«^«"t  ^  "^r^^Vrnf^^^    U%^ H'o  *•  Tiirec 

lie  thinl  resting  on  Uain.  torn.ng     PJ'""""-     '^  ^j   i^oducy  pro- 

Tuus."  of  wljlcl.  a  ^7  'T'T..?ho«8c  was  no  "y"^  closed,  and  from 

U   .ed  to  be  tbe  proprietor    .[''''^^""'^'^iiives  the  sharp,  exiusperal- 

within  came  to  tlic  ears  of   »''^,,  X„l ,  L    inslru  lents  ever  invented 

ing  sounds  ot  one  of  the  most  babo heal  '^^  ["^^"^^^'^^  ^^^.^^^  vvhich. 

nc^t  to  the  bagpipcK,  a  conce.l.na    '^n^l  ^J^^™1  to  talking  u.nid 

troni  their  liiu'h  pitch,  «™^*  i^„^\7oX.'    ho  eni^^^ 

whistling  winds  and  roiung^w^^^^^^^^^^    dJw"  .^sn"m  pas.a.e,  al>oul 

bar.  Charles  ^  "''"'  '^"'Y,!.  ween  the  Inn  auO  tlie  next  ho.ise.  and 

.three  feet  wide,  wli  cli  '''>\';"  *\"" '",J ""f  a  minute  th(!  door  was 

knocked  at  a  side  door.     After  a  P»  "''  ?\^\  „„i  ^cry  frank  or  al- 

balf  opened  by  ««[;;"  j^^^YsU^risfc^  "l-'^lr^ 

tractive  aspect,  who.  Ihrisi  n        =  " '>'  ,J^^^^.  jj,,i,t  from  witliiu 

"i^t  SrcSii^^ui^ei  S;^:i^hrauK  t^m  it  and  drew 

Ixsliind  ids  partner.  irrutlly— be  was  none  other 

"  What  do  you  want?    cneil  tue  man,  biuiuj 

that  rig."  .!,„,„  n„f<.r  nnd  sbut  tbe  door  and  locked  it. 

He  made  room  for  t^em  to  enter  an    si uu  ul  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^ 

They  found  themselves  in  »  «"  ^"  ^"^[Z  ,    ^^lea     ,  bave  been  silling 
veil  U)  bim  Ibo  depth  ot  tbeir  disappomliuent. 


ST. 

Blood  at  tho  cornel  of 
iwiiug  II  Big"  o»  wbiuU 
rli  and  Boinewlial  siiu- 
?r  sides,  two  l.elow  atul 
1.    It  was  llie  "  Ttireo 
name  ot   Hoducy  pro- 
ot  yet  closed,  and  from 
J  the  »l\arii,  exaspcral- 
ruuients  ever  invented 
ibbul)  ot  voices  whicli. 
\mled  to  lalliing  uiniil 
iug  llio  enirauce  to  tue 
a  small  paspuiie,  about 
luil  the  next  house,  and 
a  minute  th(!  door  was 
a  not  very  frank  or  al- 
id  through  the  aperture 
The  lii,'bttrom  within 
bruuli  trom  it  and  drew 

uflly_be  was  none  other 

^  Wm.  ,,„     , 

I  Mr.  Stanley?  Why  1 
o  is  that  other  fellow  V" 

•re  both  gone,  over  two 
I've  got  a  Utter  for  you. 
»ut  1  didn't  know  you  in 

lit  the  door  and  locked  it. 
jr  reeking  with  the  fumes 
sared  to  have  been  silling 
t  hot  gin  and  a  loug  clay 
pward,  lav  on  the  table, 
the  landlord's  fingers, 
ho  tioor.  which  led  to  a 
urued  .piickly  to  the  pub 
could  not  bo  concealed, 


A    WCTK    OP    PAS.<?TO>r. 


his 


ly  at  the  speaker  and  I 
iiH  of  this  mummery? 
line  to  play  on  him.    Ot 
meet  me  here  at  eleven; 

tout  man,  laughing  till  his 
by,  he's  away,  sir— saded 
Margate  by  this  time,  lor 

ther,  In  a  tone  penetrated 
the  mftu  at  once,  and  re- 
uent. 


243 


"  Stpamed— if  you  like  it  liettci,"  said  the  man;  "gone  oil,  I 
b'lievc,  to  Havre.     Hut  licrrs  his  letler;  you  can  nee  for  yourself.  " 

Chiirlt'S  Pollard,  who  li  1  dropped  the  ba-skit  on  the  table,  lore 
open  ihe  envelope,  wliii  .i  was  addressed  to  "  Samuel  Stanley, 
Esquire,  "  and  read: 

"  Pn'iutti'  dial  cnnfuh  iiliitl. 

"  Yaclit  ■  Vera,"  Tiii'sday,  8.150  p.m. 
"My   OEAU  PAIi    AND    PaTHON,   AN1>    MOH'l    KsriMAni.K   t^liAlK 

OF  QiAHKiLs,— Next  time  you  have  business  ol  iiuporlaiice  wlili 
a  gentleman  ot  my  position  and  experience  you  had  better  keep  the 
appoint ments  he  makes  with  you. 


'  ( )  eiiiii!'  ill  Iit'i''s  uny  moniinj;, 

Kit  ill  lli.v  siiiiiiy  uiiy 
Tile  lliiwci'.s  of  IhiIm'  liiive  williei'i 
Anil  sDiiow  eiKls  Uiy  il;iy." 


"  1  intended  this  afternoon,  if  you  Imddonemo  the  honor  to  come 
to  Clement  8  Inn,  to  tell  you  that  I  had  leceived  from  a  friend  in  a 
certain  office  not  one  hundred  yards  from  the  Ad — y,  iufnriuation 
whicli  led  me  to  conclude  that  the  sooner  1  elianned  my  native  air 
for  that  of  some  more  genial  and  nniiote  soiiiheni  climate,  the  bet- 
ter for  my  lungs— and  neck.  IJiit  as  you  did  not  cIioosl'  to  come  at 
my  call,  and  the  hour  you  have 'fixed  is  iiicoiivenicMt,  1  am  com- 
pelled to  lake  advnntag«t  of  the  tide,  which,  as  you  are  aware,  waits 

for  no  man,  anif  get  out  of  the  reach  of  that  octopus  in   8 d 

Y d  aa  soon  as  possible,  the  more  thiit  we  have  the  body  of  one 

of  his  myrmidons  on  board,  which  we  arc  anxious  to  consign  to  tho 
sefTccy  of  the  deep  blue  sea.  I  sincen^ly  regret  that  1  am  imable 
loolTer  you  and  your  friend  a  passage  in  the  'Vera.'  She  is  a 
l)caulitul"  boat,  and  your  agreeable  com))any  would  have  grtatly  en- 
hanced the  pleasures  of  the  vnyagc 

"  With  regard  to  the  payment  ot  that  little  balance  you  owe  mo. 
1  am  disposed  to  be  generous,  and  hereby  grant  you  a  receipt  and 
quittance  in  full— you  see  1  sign  over  a  hi.  stamp — in  virtue  of  the 
sum  you  advanceti  me  on  account  of  ihe  purchase- money  of  this 
vessel,  which  1  propose  henceforth  X'  treat  as  my  own,  and  of  a 
further  sum  of  £5(M)0— receipt  wliorjot  is  hereby  acknowledged— 
which  I  and  Captain  Sweeny — who  is  an  old  pal  of  mine— have  dis- 
coveie<l  cleverly  concealed  in  a  pair  of  old  huntinc  boots  in  tho 
locker  under  your  own  private  berth.  Were  it  bootless  to  say  that 
it  more  than  covers  all  I  he  lervices  I  have  ever  rendered  you — and 
that  we  will  settle  accounts  next  lime  we  meet'^ 

"  Ta-ta,  my  dear  Q.  Q.,  and  many  thanks. 

"  i' ours  in  the  fellowship  ot  saints. 

"T.  Yates. 

'•  P.  8. —By  the  way,  I  caught  a  (rlimpsc  to  day  in  your  '  B'ields ' 
of  the  smug  phiz  of  one  of  Sontag's  mouchnnU,  named  Garlrett — 
and  1  could  swear  1  saw  him  hanging  about  Ihe  Three  Tuns  just  as 
my  boat  put  off.  Look  out  for  him.  and  give  him  a  wide  l)erth. 
Adieu!    1  send  this  ashore  by  one  of  Rodney's  boats.    .Tustoff." 

Who  could  paint  the  leelinirs  of  rage,  disappointment,  terror,  and 
despair  Willi  which  Charles  Pollard  read  this  liideous  product  ot 


^ 


Ui 


A    AVCT.K    01'    I'ASSIOK. 


ftlmost  h'\BH  <.ompnrc.l  wi  h  the  »"!'"  »;,^;'„"^.'^,,   Vr».lnok  upon  his 
liiiullord  noticed  il.  ^  ,  ,pi,  renileroil  it 

""tro,™,..  Urn.  (Ml.1.1..  V.,l»  1.  «...lnl;;™«l  "ll»in.     Will  y™, 

^'K'jr « liii''™  ™i"TCrrfo,..„i,  .uc  1.....  g.»i-. 
"v.7r7rr;iU'"»i.srr:;r?^c,,c,,  .u»  ,..,,1.1,. » 

Smont  tCy  wot.  tmdly  conBCloas  ol  m,  8e,»l»n. 

"■fiaS  SSy."  .»W  Ch.rl»  P0ll.nl,  "  1.  ..W".  «««  ml- 

"%,,7:s':;,rsa;mi„*.u 
S-ri'iSKorsr  w'r,„"i.  isr.-.  «ub  p^.,,,  »,i 

liissing.  .     .  ,„  ,i.ip  nnrnmunitv  of  crlmc  had  also  sunk  on 

Tho  senior  Partner  in  this  commnuyoicrmu^ 


lint  ImnRln.!)!  wonid  hO 
n  biliuL'  ngony  "t  sncli 
nil  llie  blnok  upon  his 
unolion  wu'i  j;oiiig  on 
[■sRccnied  Mtiirlins,'  trorii 
(realhetl   heavily.     TIkj 

,  (o!ie  which  rendered  it 
nitntKl  or  <vin|>iitlielic. 
rfiil  elTori   nmiiiif^tHl  to 

(.rnnl  villiiin.     Will  you 

.lliird,  the  letter  grasiHid 
r. 
cried   the  uncle,  in  ti 

loney.    Tlcnd  tlmt " 
sleoiit  Ills  cold  piiicevfz, 
•xcilenienl  of  liis  llisrhl, 
libeititely  l)egan  to  read 
B,   kept  hia  eyes  on  tlio 
iind  liic  jerlvs  of  his  l)Otly 
cursing  Mr.  Tom  Yiites 
1  nil  the  siivrtjii!  intensity 
lips  were  pressed  lightly 
and  altitude  were  calm. 
'.    He  hail  just  finisliwl 
ith  two  steiiiiins  jonuns 
I  the  men  stretched   out 
ithout  stopping.    In  their 
iny  sensation. 

Ilard,  "  in  about  five  mln- 

10  liad  IcH  the  room,  each 
'0  that  filled  tlieir  souls 
inxioly  about  their  sitiia- 
idrel— the  Hcc()mpli<^c  and 
■scried,  and,  in  tlie  very 
tis  of  escBiK)  they  had  so 
lade  tlie  butt  of  his  cold. 
Immiliation  Wivs  a  punisli- 
)t  Sodom,  branding  to  tlie 
led  itself  in  with  pain  and 

of  crime  had  also  sunk  on 
yed  with  the  gold  glasses 
tion  when  engagcil  in  dls- 
The  figute  and  attlludo 
iMjen  so  dreadful, 
dewise. 
rapid  undertone.       That 


A    WKEK    OF    PASStOK. 


24r. 


fellow  will  Ik)  hack  in  a  moment.  Wc  haven't  a  miniilo  to  lose. 
You  see  what  lie  hints  at  in  the  postscript?"  pointing  to  the  letter 
clulclied  in  his  uuele's  hand.  "  I  have  about  four  tliousand  in  the 
bag,  and  all  that  money  in  I'aris.  Htay,  here  he  comes;  diiiik  it 
up  ((iiiek,  and  let  us  get  outside." 

'I'he  elder  made  no  reply.  He  was  still  fumbling  with  his  glii.sses 
and  llnnkiiig  ("iciplv.  Ifapidly  he  was  passing  in  review  all  that  ho 
had  gained  and  lost  in  that  lite  of  ovur  threesi on!  yiars,  which  had 
bifiun  so  brightly,  and  which  had  brought  him  to  this— to  be  tlee- 
ing  ill  a  mean  disguise  from  ihe  bloody  sword  of  jiislici!.  He  was 
tliiiikiiig  of  his  wife,  who  had  lived  with  liitn  in  liie  same  house  in 
Uegeiil's  Park,  every  inch  of  which  was  familiar  to  liiin,  for  over 
Ihiily  years,  whose  hair,  like  his  own,  was  silvered  with  age,  who 
williiii  a  few  hours  wouhl  leain  ot  his  llight  and  his  dishonor,  per- 
hitps  of  his  crime.  He  was  thinking  of  liis  son,  a  lieineiiant  in  IIk; 
Kngineers,  now  serving  in  India,  who  had  been  iiicnlioiiLd  in  dis- 
palches  for  lirilliaiit  services  during  Ihe  Afghan  War;  of  his 
daughter,  married  to  a  Court  physiemn,  a  kniglil;  of  his  younirer 
son  at  Cambridge,  full  ot  promise  and  ambiiiim,  wliieli  would  to- 
morrow be  extinguished  in  the  pilchy  sliaiiu!  ot  his  father's  sins. 
He  was  lliinkiiig  of  tlie  sturdy  old  firm  ot  I'olliud  'k  rnliard,  which 
liud  nourished  like  a  mighty  tree,  with  its  roots  diii-p  in  vast  estates 
and  lich  inlieritancest  in  wcallliy  corpoiations  and  lloiiriKliing 
businesses,  and  yet  whose  fame  and  vigor  would  lo-niorrow,  at  tiro 
touch  of  the  Ithuriel  spear  of  .Justice,  wither,  sliiiuk  up  and  rot 
away,  its  very  name  to  become  a  by-word  of  ignominy. 

Silently  taking  the  glass  fiom  the  landlonrs  hinid,  he  sipped  and 
mused,  while  ('liarles  Pollard  nervously  chiitlered  to  the  man,  and 
alleeled  to  joke  at  Ihe  trick  his  friend  liad  played  him.  In  two 
ininntea  they  rose  up  to  go,  tlie  landlord  letting  them  out  iit  Ihe 
door  l)y  which  they  had  entered. 

"  Well."  he  said,  aloud  to  liiniself.  as  he  loeke<l  Ihe  door,  "this 
is  a  rum  go!  1  b'lievc  that  chap  Stanley  is  a  lawyer,  or  some.hing 
ot  that  sort.  Looks  as  it  Cap'n  Yates  owed  him  some  money,  .and  has 
given  him  leg-bail.  Well,  it's  none  of  my  business,  howsomever; 
80  long  as  they  all  pay  their  shot,  tliey  may  come  and  go  as  much 
as  they  please;  but  1  never  saw  a  better  inumnieiy,  no,  not  in  a 
theayter.  You  couldn't  have  told  them  two  from  plumbers  till 
they  began  to  speak." 

"What's  that  you  eay?"  said  a  man,  cniering  from  the  oilier 
room  ami  silling  down  licside  the  grog  and  pipe  lie  had  left  when 
the  knock  came  to  the  door. 

Charles  Pollard,  shouldering  his  bag,  which  was  pretty  heavy,  led 
the  way  slowly  along  Ihe  river-bank  in  front  of  the  houses  before 
referred  to,  his  uncle  following,  with  bowed  head,  niecnanically, 
walking  as  in  a  dicam.  There  were  some  small  wharfs  and  tim- 
bei-yards  In  this  direction,  and  after  tramping  in  silence  lor  nearly 
a  quarter  of  an  hour,  having  diverged  inland  to  avoid  them,  they 
returned  and  continued  to  walk  alongside  the  dark,  glistening 
rivei.  The  public-houses  were  emptying,  and  they  met  little  knots 
of  wrangling  or  stolid  creatures  staggering  to  such  places  as  each 
called  home.    The  two  metin  lookinj^  men  who  passed  them  curried 


240 


A  wet:k  ov  rAfisTOK. 


••  Wlml.  if  Ihcro 


onouKli  Rol.l  to  Imvo  made  tl.cn.  nil  rl.l.  '"";  >»  y''"''- «"'' ^T'ST; 
sS  had  no  llxcl  (li-Miniilion-Hlill  U-sh  a  l.on.c.    1  lint  wor.l  tor 

n.,U  neo^,  r    In-    or' ..ullu.il.linL'  nm,.  ..p  here  an.l  (here  nn.l  pre«- 

.      ^    I,  r. ,    w.  •(.  i.n  L'THRx     '1  lifV  hii.l  pna&ed  u  slu-d  close  to  the 

?Kirni1wSi;  r  a.'^^^^^^^^^  Cllane.    Pollnn.    HU...lcnly 

"''"  llarkt"  he  tmi.l.     "  HI'l  you  li™r  steps?'' 
"  No,"  Haiil  llic  senior  pnrtner,  in  a  sullen  tone. 

""  The  Junior  listene.l  again.  The  night  wan  clear  and  .sl.irlit.  The 
„r.»rhx"r  moved  on  black  l.utRlenniine.  with  here  and  there  ichts 
?  ..nn^,  nnlts  bosoM.  They  were  on  a  slight  elevation.  I-(K)k- 
r'J"lmk^hev  could  r  ot  Oravesend.  across  Ihestrea.n 

hos^S'^ilbuS     TU^     eep.  monotonous  throbbing  of  a  stean.er 
Sn"  up  Srlvcr.  and  its  own  soft,  Incessant  .nur.nur  as  it  ru.. 

'"^'^"^c'Sri^u'^o"":;?;.  .he  dder.  in  a  strange,  nn.ftled 
i«r„a  iw.  thiPW  down  the  piping  with  a  Ihu.l  on  the  grass. 

on.  "^^P'lV  '  „.  1„  „,,„»  not  stay  in  Gravesei.d.  Let  iia  get  to 
?."  ^.TnTour  only"  cba.ree  now  s  to^go  to  Folkestone,  and  sliaiuht 
of K-«n  ".wl'ir^top"^^    ns^  our  way  when  we  gel  on  a 

""•^s!op!''charlic,"  replied  Joseph  rollard.  "I'm  not  going  nny 

'"iKd  suddenly  awakened  from  bis  v^'^lking  dream.    Ills  mind 
w.ia  cleur  airaln.    His  voice  was  calm  and  deterinincd. 

i^No^iSing  any  furtherl"  cried  Chnrles  fo  lard,  7«i"\J  '7,°R 
tn  make  out  in  tfic  darkness  the  tcaturea  of  his  uncle,  which  had 
Sen  sS  carefully  blurred  by  lamp-black.    "  What  do  yo,.  mean  to 

thine?    No.  no.  you  sha'n't  do  that!  ,,  ,, 

•  1  will  ••   said  the  elder,  in  a  deep,  determined  tone.        My 


*"charie8  Pollard  was  in"t"ron'iVf  him  in  an  instant. 

"Turn  back!  old  man-turn  back!"   he  said,  fiercely. 
Bhallnotgoback." 


"You 


(ir  ft  ypnr,  nmJ  yot  tlicm. 
I  lionie.    Thnt  word  tor 

,  except  wljcre  the  dftrk 
lete  niul  (here,  nnd  prcB- 
laascil  u  slu'd  close  to  the 
irles    PoUiinJ    auddenly 


I?" 
n  tone. 


••  Wlml.  if  Ihcro 


18  clt'iir  and  sliirlif.  The 
rith  here  tind  there  lichts 
slight  clcviition.  I.ook- 
vesend,  across  the  stream 
i  tlirol>hing  of  t\  siciiiner 
Bsaiiiit  nmniiur  na  It  rnii 

er,  in  a  siriinge,  nniffled 
Ihutl  on  liie  prnss. 
y,  niiii<ing  us  it  he  would 
Jriivcaeiid.  Let  ua  get  to 
1  Folkestone,  iind  altaiuht 
r  way  when  wc  pet  on  n 

ml,  "  I'm  not  going  nny 

alking  drtam.    Ills  mind 
detenniiicil. 

en  I'ollard,   vainly  trying 

a  of  ids  uncle,  which  had 

"  What  do  you  mean  to 

d  enough  of  this;  1  can't 
ling  ugainst  fate;  we  have 
iin  going  l)ack  to  give  mv- 
■1  won't  go  another  stop!" 
voice  of  iningled  riige  and 
Are  you  crazy?  Why, 
Jfwgate,  and  1  tool  How 
you  go  and  confess  every- 

dctormined  tone.  "My 
od  help  you— and  mo  too! 
ow  groan  escaped  from  his 

"  don't  waslo   time   here; 
we  shall  manage  It  yet." 
ike  handi  1  must  go  witu- 
ind  took  a  stop  or  two. 
I  an  instant, 
he  said,  fiercely.     "  You 


A    WKKK    OV    l-ASSION. 


247 


"  I  will!"  said  .Toscpli  Pollard,  all  his  savage  doggeducas  eondng 
up.  "  Stuud  out  of  my  way,  1  say,  and  go  yours.'  lie  Irled  to 
puss. 

"  Vou  ehall  not,"  said  Charles  Pollard,  in  a  low,  delermlnwl 
tone,  as  he  placed  himself  once  more  in  front  ot  the  other  and  sui/.od 
him  bv  the  arm.  The  uncle,  still  a  powerful  man,  struggled  to  tree 
himself. 

"  Leave  go.  sir."  lie  dealt  his  junior  partner  a  'low  with  his  flst 
which  made  him  stagger.  The  latter  dropped  his  1  •^,  stepped  back 
a  pace,  and  quickly  putting  his  hand  in  his  bosuu  ',  brought  it  out 
again.     "  Stand  aside,  Charles  Pollard!" 

"  I  won't.     Are  >ou  determined  to  go  back?" 

"  Yes;"  he  moved  forward.  At  the  same  moment  Charles  Pol- 
lards hand  stretched  out— at  the  same  moment  something  in  his 
hand  touclied  the  old  man's  breast— at  the  same  moment  there  was 
a  Hash  and  a  report,  and  (vith  a  low  gronn  .Joseph  Pollard  gunk  to 
the  earth.  And  it  almost  seemed  to  Mr.  Charles  to  be  at  the  same 
moment  that  he  heard  a  sound  as  of  something  brushmg  over  the 
grass  behind  him,  felt  u  cold  muzzle  pressed  to  his  ear,  and  heard 
the  voice  of  Mr.  Garbett  say,  (juielly,  rapidly, 

"  Don't  stir;  drop  your  pistol,  or  1  shoot,  1  arrest  you  in  the 
queen's  name!" 

Jlut  GiirlM'tt  had  not  calculated  on  the  desperate  daring,  or  rather 
resolution,  ot  Charles  Pollard  driven  to  bay.  The  detective,  holding 
his  revolver  wtth'liib  left  hand  and  standing  Iwhind  his  prisoner,  had 
seized  with  his  right  hand  the  hitler's  arm.  The  grip  was  firm; 
but  Charles  Pollard  shook  it  oil,  and  cocking  his  revolver,  was  in 
tlie  act  of  turning  on  his  assailant,  when  the  trigger  of  Garbett 's 
pistol  fell,  and  llie  junior  ])artuer  involuntarily  jomed  the  senior  on 
a  longer  journey  than  they  hud  cimleinplated.  They  bad  been 
partners  in  business  and  in  crime,  and  iu  death  they  were  nut 
divided. 

**■*«#♦# 

In  the  middle  ot  the  night,  or  rather  when  day  was  beginning  to 
lighten  the  hemispheie,  Mr.  Sontag  was  roused  out  ot  a  slumber 
which  ui)peared  to  be  undisturbed  by  the  immense  variety  of  fright- 
ful facts  and  painful  secrets  ot  which  Ids  brain  was  the  pautL>chnI- 
con.  Ilis  attendant,  who,  like  a  doctor's  servant,  was  accustomed 
to  these  nocturnal  alarums,  entered,  and  tola  him  that  Garbett  was 
waiting  without  and  anxious  to  see  him  immediately. 

"Come  in,  Garbett,"  snouted  the  ilelective,  sweeping  his  brain 
clear  in  a  moment  of  all  the  clouds  of  sltep.  "  Turn  on  the  gas, 
Martin,  and  leave  us." 

"  What  time  is  it,  Garbett?" 

"  Three-flfteen,  sir;  just  arrived  trom  Oravesend.    1  posted." 

"  Gravesend?  Why,  what's  the  matter?  you  look  as  white  as  u 
sheet." 

The  detective  was  standing  in  exactly  the  same  position  as  we 
have  before  desciibed.  his  head  on  one  side,  his  eyes  motioQless,  his 
hands  crossed  in  front  holding  his  hnt.  But  his  hair  was  in  dis- 
order, bia  under  jaw  seemed  limp,  and  inclined  to  drop  awav  ti-om 
his  face;  under  bis  eyes  there  appeared  to  be  t(>vo  dark  bags;  lllq  face 
was,  indeed,  ultogethcr  uhastly. 


•,*•  ii 


248 


A     WKKK     OH    rAHHlON. 


•'  Hm!  news?  *  Why-wluit-lmve  tht,  I'ollanla  got  off?    If  t».«y 

'"'"''•x'nisc  me  sir,  thcyWo  Konc  to  the  .Icvll-liolh  (Jeml.  ' 

••  £ dov     hey  hHvel"  cried  Mr.  Hont«K.  ^Uti-K  "P  '»  ''  «  'j'"'' 

«nd  gSing  lit  OarbeU.     "  You  don't  mean  to  8«y  tuey  aro  dcud- 

not  both  ot  thcmV" 
"Hotli.  sir." 

"  Huiddc?"  ,  , ,     .  .. 

'•  «lne  wf>8  a  murdor-the  otlior-nccidcnt.  „p.«  ,h,.„ 

"  At  (InivraendV    Tbo  deteclivo  nodded.        What  were  they 

""'"^herwero  «o1..j?  to  run  awoy-ln  a  yacht,  sir,  with  Captuiu 

^  >u"'sortae  gave  a  Ions  whistle,  threw  ott  the  clothes,  and  thrust 
his  CCS  out  ot  tol.  sitting  now  on  the  edge  of  II    fudn.L:  h.s  ma... 

••  nero'"a  lotler.  sir.  ftound  In  the  hand  ot  Mr.  Joseph  Pollard, 
the  old  man.  after  his  death.''  i.i„  „„„„„„,  «»     iiia 

The  chief  detective  took  the  letter  and  ran  his  eye  over  it.  His 
nu  ck  intelligence  appreciated  the  entire  sltuntion  In  a  moment.  Ilo 
Sou  with  a  hclrty  laugh,  while  Garbelt.  who  was  in  no  laugh- 
Inir  humor,  stared  at  him  with  a  kind  ot  wooden  suri.rise. 

?•  wS"  «ai^  Mr.  Hontag,  "  for  cool  clever.  •»"«««fl «"f  ,7»'f'«™ 
«i.)»  iVpiits  anvthlna  1  ever  i^ad.  I  wouldn't  have  missed  this  for  a 
LundrSpouSs"'' 1  dont  wonder  at  «"/op««>«,tSh^8  throat 
after  recelvhic  such  a  letter  as  that.  1  think  1  sho.ild  mvselt. 
"""ne  didKcut  his  throat,  sir.  Charles  T^f^»^^^fJ.^^\  ^^"^ 
lard  before  my  cyes-to  prevent  his  peaching;  and  whilo  I  was 
trying  to  arrest^Clmrles  1  shot  Lim-by  accident,  sir;  but  it  1  hadu  t 

""".^Oh  Lmroiittr"cri«l  Mr.  Sontag.  getting  up  and  walking 
»hout  the  roo  ..  In  grent  agitation.  "  What  a  mess  you  have  made 
on?  AVhv  m."n.  we  have  secret  information  to-night  which  satis- 
fies us  they  were  ho  instigators  of  Darton's  murder,  anc  fcere  was 
Sch  a  nic7mtle  Job  tor  us' to  make  up  the  n>lf "«  Jn^a!  ^ou  see 
tills  fellow  Yates  Is  one  ot  the  accomplices.    Is  ho  ou? 

"'  That^yacht  must  be  caught.  Wo  will  telegraph  at  once  a"  BlonK 
the  C lanuel     But.  oh.  Garbett,  Garbett,  this  Is  a  terrible  disap- 
rSntment"    t  was  a  be.  utlful  cUe-a  beautiful  c.iso!'      He  w,i  ke. 
Tp  and  doWa  in  his  bare  feet.  wUh  his  head  ^^««».  f^'i'^J^K  »'«•    " 
ffliid  reneatlnc-"  All  our  labor  lost-such  a  splendid  case  too! 
"' He  iCTuestioned  Garbett  closely.^but  rapidly.  <«  toV'tSeC; 
ceedinw  after  leaving  on  his  afternoon's  expedition.    How  the  two 

put  on  their  track-two  to  each  partner-was  ot  course  as  yet  un- 

^"SS  tt  a^pelrShaTSuised  himself  and  gone  forth  to  look 
up  y2  in  ceffi  haunts  ot  his  which  had  become  known  to  he 
police,  in  connection  with  the  inquiry  into  ^e  affair  at  the  Melton 
Club     He  soon  discovered  that  tho  captain  had  not  changed  his 

quarters"  wlTch.  with  a  judicious  »'«'<'r"A.rf«t''''2t*°lam«V  At 
maiatsincd,  at  least  oimjBBlbly,  Ja  Puk«  Street,  St.  Oawcs  8.    Al 


F^'-'-'r---^*'"-  > 


r. 


iinJs  got  off?    If  they 

— liolh  (lead.  '       '  ' 
silting  tip  in  Ills  hfil 
to  say  tucy  ato  dcuU— 


I.     *•  What  •wore  they 

»cht,  sir,  with  Cnptniii 

the  clolI)«i,  luul  thrust 
(f  II,  fiKlriL'  his  mini. 
3t  Mr.  Joscpli  Pollard, 

m  his  eye  over  it.  Ills 
ition  in  a  moment.  Ilo 
,  who  was  In  no  laiigh- 
Mlen  8ur|)ri8e. 
XT,  amiacious  cynidsra 
have  missed  thiH  for  a 
one  culling  his  tliroat 
1 1  should  myselt." 
•oUutd  shot  Joseph  Pol- 
ling; and  wliiln  1  was 
lent,  sir;  but  it  1  hadn't 

getting  up  and  walking 
a  mess  you  have  made 
on  to-night  which  satis- 
I  murder,  and  iiere  wns 
missine  links!  You  ace 
Is  ho  of!?" 

cgraph  at  once  all  along 
his  is  a  terrible  disap- 
Liful  case!"    He  walked 

down,  shaking  his  head 
,  splendid  case  too!* 

rapidly,  as  to  liis  pro- 
pedition.  How  the  two 
!0  of  tlic  tour  detectives 
ivas  of  course  as  yet  un- 
it and  gone  forth  to  look 
d  tiecocne  known  lo  the 
the  afiair  at  the  Mellon 
itn  bad  not  changed  hia 

he  had  tor  some  years 
Street,  St.  Oarocs'iJ.    At 


A    WRRK    Of."    I'ASHION. 


M 


half  pn«t  six  he  had  sron  lilni  cntir  tliow'  ((iiarhsrs,  wlmnoi'  In  iil>oiit 
twi-nty  miniitra  a  iM.y  luid  iHHii.'d  und  suninioni'il  a  hansom,  inlci 

whirli  thocaplaln,  i-lml  in  a  hluc!  yiirhlln;,'  coHtii and  ciirrylni;  a 

Mniill  triivfliiig-lmg,  had  entered  with  llie  tniy  anil  driven  lo  Ftii- 
church  Htrout.  At  Gravcsend  he  had  gone  to  liioThiccTuiiH,  and 
reniaincd  there  until  a  gig  «!anie  olF  from  aline  stimm  viichi  lying  in 
midstream,  whicii  fortliwllh  conveyed  liiiii  on  lioard,  loliowwl  no«m 
allcr  hy  a  lioat  of  Hodm-y's.  Tliis  Imat  ciime  hack;  tiio  yacht  raised 
aiiclior  and  steamed  away,  leaving  Mr.  (inrlicll  to  liis  roMections. 

I  liming  Into  ilio  pulilichoiise  with  the  view  of  making  some  in- 
quiries, he  had  struck  up  an  acqiniinlanio  with  mine  liosl,  and  was 
griidually  soiindini:  his  way  amid  ilio  mud  Itaiiks  of  iliat  worthy 
person  s  mind,  wliuii  two  men  knocked  at  tlio  door,  and  lie  wiw 
asked  to  wait  in  llie  next  room.  Me  had  not  been  aide  to  sec  them 
or  to  overhear  their  conversation,  but  on  leliiriiing  to  tlie  loom  ho 
had  caught  a  lew  words  almut  the  cleverness  of  tlicir  disguise,  whicli 
immediately  put  all  his  deleclivolacullieH  on  llie  alert,  and  he  had 
set  o/I  to  follow  tho  men,  still  with  iiardlv  more  tlnin  a  taint  sucpi- 
cion  ot  their  identity,  for  he  did  not  believe  it  iwssililo  that  they 
f'oiild  iiave  eluded  the  sharp  watch  he  liad  put  upon  their  move- 
ments. It  was  only  when  crouching  under  tho  side  of  the  small 
shed  we  have  mentioned  that  ho  caught  and  recognized  the  sound 
of  their  voices  In  the  silence  of  the  nfiflit,  and  dimly  distinguished 
their  movements.  Cocking  his  levolver,  he  had  resolved  to  rush 
forward  and  otter  the  old  man  an  opportunity  of  givlne  himself  up 
at  once,  when  the  Hash  and  report  settiwl  tho  dispute,  and  then 
ensued  the  fatal  result  which  grieved  Mr.  Sontag  as  much  as  it  lie 
I  ad  lost  a  large  inheritance. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Sontiur,  with  a  deep  sigh—"  well,  there  Is  no 
use  (rying  over  spilt  milk.  The  most  wo  can  do  now  is  lo  catch 
the  suliortliiiates;"  he  had  been  drcsfing  while  he  spoke.  "  Wo 
will  go  across  and  telegraph  to  all  the  French  and  English  norts  at 
once.  We  can  leave  the  liansatlantic  till  tomorrow:  and  mind, 
(iarbett,  we  must  keep  this  (juiit  lor  tweiiiy-four  hours.  Where 
are  the  bodies— at  aravesend''  (iood.  Wc' will  get  the  imiiiest 
posiponcd  till  Friday.  Como  along.  There  is  no  rest  for  tho 
wicked.     But— what  a  pity!  what  a  nity!   It  was  a  beautiful  casiM" 


CHAPTWl  XXI.        ;     ;- 

■         '  "'  A  NOIU.K    I.OVR. 

OvEnroME  by  the  fatigue  and  excitement  of  two  days  of  ivinlten- 
tial  passion,  llie  earl  slept  lietler  after  his  final  act  of  repentance  than 
he  had  for  many  a  week.  The  wrong  done  to  his  sister,  the  Count- 
ess ot  Iilbury,  had  been  lully  repaired  so  far  as  material  interests 
were  involved,  though  Ihe  breach  ot  faith  stood  unconfessed,  as  it 
was  still  unknown,  to  her.  How  tar  a  man  can  be  said  to  have  per- 
formed an  ample  penance  in  such  circumstances  is  a  matter  we  must 
leave  to  those  troublesome  dealers  in  conundrums,  the  casuists. 
These  secret  reparations,  made  without  disclosure  to  the  person 
wronged,  without  submiltiug  to  the  humiliation  and  unpleasantnesa 


jfi 


'250 


A    WEEK    OF    PARSIOV. 


"       .     .  In/.    r.:.l    V       ll  .  1  .iiil  ..n  u. r..«.nt  ot  un|mi.l  IncoUH-lii.x 

iiiiiiiill 

illisissiisi 

mmmmm 

?.  .    in  r  he  >i«  .t  Lolore.  wn«  to  some  extent  countcrnctcl  l.yH.o 
«  Pi  u   u  1^0  ni  I  critic  aa  the  c.irl  coul.l  Have  (icslve.l  the  man  to  l.e 

■"S")'! -*=•"?■  «•"»":.•■  r""''''..'*  r^r's'lf  "™.t 


the  Konl  of  prnonal  for 
uiHol  llic  "  TiniiH  "  mill 
;ih((i\i(;r  usftl  wrckly  li» 
III  (III  \wo]^\^\  lliiin  il  u|)- 
1  iioli's  iicknowlt'dui'il  n> 
lilt  ot  iinimiil  liicKiiiftiix 
r,  iiH  11  rcrtiiitily  1h  iiion- 
i(!  lull  |u;iiiill.V  i"'l  lii'*  «i'> 
s  liy  (uiiuTiiliiin  Iroiii  lliu 
tr  llio  ptTHoimlitv  "f  ili« 
J  \\n»  iniicli  force  in  llif 
link  oxpliiimlion  willi  liiH 
1  t'illiur  conitort  or  iirnili, 
en  llicni  for  llift  fcwflioit 
I  do  not  undorlnki-  to  jvihh 
•  cimrhctei  of  the  Ktirl  nf 
rdinn  'o  Ids  ot  lu-r  own 
v(!  si'cn.  loo,  Unit  lii«  only 

Ig   CMHUlStS.  It   Is    tllK!,  (ip 

f  point  of  consriince. 

cnrl's  CVL'S.  nfrcHbed  by 
•.therolluf  wlilcli  lii«  con- 

remedy  lit'  bud  mlminls- 
•xtenl  countcrnctcil  by  tbo 
jiidy  Rl.mcbo'H  confession, 
dietl  bopcB  of  many  yearn 
lie  awkward  perversity  ot 
iaily  everylbiiiK  tliat  even 
lavo  desired  tlie  man  to  be 
cidents  of  rank,  race,  and 
ion  of  tbo  liaiiKlily  noltle- 
rld  tliinK  ot  amb  a  niatcli? 
»t  Loril  Tlllmry,  Ibo  grief 

the  carl's  mind  worked, 
able  -.ulilect.  His  candor 
clor  liad'licen  irreproaclia- 
i  Ibat  it  Implied  tbe  jwsscs- 
le  tbe  roundness  ot  a  great 

to  bis  daiigbter,  wbose  act 
,w  In  It  so  much  tbat  was 
ch  resembling  bis  own  im- 
it  he  could  not  help  admir 
ami  fretted  over  the  conpe- 
ler  this  was  not  iinotlier  ol 
)ed  by  way  of  tonic  for  bis 
1  the  situation  would  never 

act?  Ho  owed  young  Har- 
vices  coukl  hove  been  fully 
^nehe,  what  could  he  say  or 
•t  She  had  conquered  hini, 
(t  opened  his  and  gazed  into 
id  ever  done— not  even  his 


r 


A    WKEK    OF    PAHSION. 


2M 


wife— w.lh  all  tbo  forcll)lo  luslglit  of  a  (leaver  and  loving  wonniii. 
I.inly  Itiiiinlic  bad  sliowii  bim,  too,  tint,  great  an  was  lier  tini'clioii 
lor  him,  nIu:  Imd  developed  into  a  cburaiter  of  poweifid  indivldii- 
alily.  .Slie  would  be  and  do  all  tlml  a  dauglib  r,  loving,  Kvuipallu/,- 
inir,  siierlllcing,  ougbl  to  bo  und  do;  but  she  would  tiot'vicid  one 
jot  of  her  j)reiogiitivc  a.s  ii  woman.  Her  band  and  Inart  must  go 
togetlur  whenever  tbeyweie  given;  otherwise,  i\s  her  words  siu)\ved, 
they  would  not  be  given  at  nil.  Ilarlon  alioiild  woo  her  only  with 
her  liilher'a  peimlssion,  hut  she  let  Inr  father  uiidersliind  lliat,  even 
with  sucli  H  permisKJon,  tlie  cltailel  ol'  her  heart  was  eloned  and  de- 
lendeil  to  every  other,  lie  was  keen  enough  to  foresee  all  widcb 
WHS  implied  In  that.  It  wusowim;  to  Just  siieb  a  spirit,  lo  JiiHtsueb 
a  determiimtloii,  that  his  own  married  happiness  bail  been  secureil, 
in  Hpiii:  ot  endless  Intrigue*  and  Ihe  impenilive  orders  of  bis  hito 
wile's  pan  Ills.  Had  not  happiness  come  lo  lliat  forbidden  contract'? 
\es;  but  then  bis  wile  had  only  rejected  one  lOirl  ot  Helby  to  ac- 
(■ept  anoiher.  and  I<adv  Itlunclie  was  throwing  over  half  tlie  i)ecrairo 
fdr  Mr.  Kartoii. 

f-ady  Ulaiiclie,  altliougb  ber cheeks  indicated  tliatshohad  not  slept 
well,  und  tlie  languor  ot  her  manner  plainly  showed  how  emotion 
liud  heeu  preying  u|)on  ayouug,  elastic  system,  wasipiileus  seilpos- 
sessed  us  lier  lalber  when  they  met  at  tbo  break  fast  table.  There 
was  a  certain  empliiiHis  iii  In  r  touch  ot  bis  band,  in  the  kiss  she  im- 
printed ou  ids  cheek;  but  only  he  appreciated  !'.  Lord  Chailes  was 
uu  oliservant  young  «cntleiiian,  and  on  tbe  ulort  tbat  morning,  after 
tliecuiious  niu'iit  promenade  of  whieli  lie  had  received  as  yet  no 
explanation,  but  ho  could  not  detect  anything  extraordinary  'in  tbo 
manner  ot  his  father  or  his  sister.  They  talked  alimit  tlie  letters 
'Ahich  had  come  in,  cbalted  with  Mrs.  llarton,  laid  out  plans  lor  the 
(lay,  and  tbe  earl  glanced  over  the  papers,  but  no  referenco  was 
made  lo  Ihe  subject  concerning  wliicli  tlie  young  lord's  curiosity  wiis 
keenly  alive.  The  earl,  however,  who  williuut  secmiug  to  do  so 
read  him  like  a  bo(Uv,  at  length  said,  quite  simply, 

"  We  abandoned  you  lust  uigbl,  Cbiulie.  1  went  lo  make  some 
liupiiries  ut  Bcotlauil  Yard,  and  IJlanchc  must  needs  lake  the  air  lu 
u  hansom  lo  keeji  me  company." 

Lord  Charles  perfectly  understood  tliat  he  was  to  u(  iiept  this  as  a 
complete  explanation,  and  did  so  for  the  time,  hoping  that  his  sis- 
ler  would  be  more  explicit  by  and  by. 

The  peer,  of  course,  was  Ignonint  of  that  tragic  solullon  ot  all 
bis  difllcuUies  which  the  two  rollards  onrt  Mr.  Gurbett  had  iirranL-ed 
lielwyeu  them;  but  the  morbid  elTecls  of  guilt  and  fear  were  to  a 
ureal  extent  removed,  and  his  mind  was  all  the  freer  to  canvass  tluil 
olher  trouble  which  liad  suddenly  sprung  up  in  his  jialh.  His 
diplomatic  finesse  was  completely  baflled  in  the  effort  to  lln<l  a  way 
round  tliut  impediment;  but  ho  resolved  that  be  would  go  over  and 
see  Lord  Tlllmry,  and  try  lo  uscertaia  how  Ids  feelings  liiy;  tor 
already  he  had  gone  so  far  in  his  determinations  as  ',o  have  settled 
tliut.  unless  the  young  peer  evinced  u  clear  resolul  on  to  win  his 
cousin's  baud,  Lady  Blanche  sliould  liave  two  years  to  ponder  tlie 
important  question  of  her  fate,  with  full  liberty  ot  Intercourse  with 
Harlon,  but  wilh  the  understanding  that  neither  ot  the  young  i)eo- 
plu  Bhouia  come  to  any  ti.xttl  arrangement,  or  permit  the  slate  ot 


253 


A    AVEB;K    of    I'ASSION. 


fcv- 


tlieir  feclinKS  to  be  revealed  to  otlier:;.  Later  on  in  the  diiy  !io  would 
Bpuiik  to  Lord  Charles,  and  make  him  tlic  coiitidaut  of  tliia  species 
of  secret  tuinily  compact,  lie  did  not  liido  Irom  liimself  tliat  there 
was  very  little  liope  ot  improvini;  the  position  by  llilc  concession, 
but  it  was  a  kind  aiid  a  proper  one— and  in  two  jear.s  no  one  knew 
what  miglit  liiippen.  iJeaidis,  lie  felt  it  was  d>ie  to  his  paternal  dig- 
nity (hat  tic  should  not  a|ip('ar  to  iiave  been  forced  intoasiihndssion 
wliich  was  repui;nant  to  Ids  ])ii(lc. 

He  walked  ncioss  tlie  park,  and  found  the  Countess  of  Tilbury 
joyous  and  relieved.  The  youn^  pier  was  itcoverinf?  rapidly,  spile 
ot  tlie  acute  disappointment  he  liad  experienced  tlie  day  l)el(>r('. 
^^lie  was  rather  surprised  at  the  calnmess  whieli  bad  ensued  upon 
it,  and  beuan  to  think  that  his  feelings  had  not  been  so  prolonnd  on 
tlie  ]Hiint  as  she  had  imagined. 

Tlie  liarl  of  Selby  prom|)lly  liroactied  the  subject  which  was  oc- 
cupying hi.s  thoughts  ,and  soon  learned  all  that  had  taken  ))laeb  on 
tlie  previous  day.  His  face  clouded;  that  of  the  countess  was 
trouliled  and  pu/,/,led. 

"  1  can  not  understand  it,"  she  said.  "  For  reasons  which  1  may 
not  even  hint  to  you,  Iliad  a  conviction  that  things  would  bear- 
ranged.  1  know  she  did  not  feel  any  romantic  alTcction  ioi  him. 
but  I  did  liopc  tliat  in  time  licr  feelings  wouhl  bccoii  c  warmer  and 
more  decided— and  the  match  was  so  ht.  Atioul  this  1  .lave  no  doubt 
—he  loves  her  as  a  man  loves  only  once  in  ti  lite- time;  and  it  grieves 
my  very  soul  to  think  that  he  should  ha\e  to  suller,  as  lie  will 
suffer,  liy  her  indifference." 

"  Have  you  not  guessed  the  reason?" 

"  1  can't  say  that  1  have.  1  can  not  understand  her.  It  appears 
to  be  a  whim  to  nie — who  know  a  gooa  deal  you  can  never  know," 
said  the  countess. 

"  Siic  loves  another  man,"  said  the  earl. 

"  Wiiat!"  cried  the  countess,  perfe<;tly  thunderstruck,  and  utterly 
unable  to  reconcile  such  a  statement  wiili  Lady  Blanche's  conduct 
ot  no  longer  ago  than  JMonday.  "  Impossible,  my  dear  earl — im- 
possible!" 

The  countess's  tongue  was  endeavoring  io  lieat  down  tiy  emphatic 
reiteration  a  va^ue  alarm  that  floated  in  licr  bra'n.  hlie  remembered 
the  incident  of  yesterday,  the  tiff  about  Burton— but  that  was  too 
insane  an  idea  to  nouiisli. 

"  Impossible,"  she  cried  again,  "  from  what  I  know  !" 

"  True,  nevertheless;  she  confessed  it  to  inc  last  night,"  said  the 
carl. 

"  Whj',  she  must  be  crazy,  my  dear  brother!"  cried  the  countess, 
inanely. 

The  peer  shook  his  head  with  a  troubled  smile. 

"  I  am  afraid  not,"  be  said.  "  It  she  were,  there  might  be  som« 
hope  of  curing  the  malady.  Oh  no.  Her  wits  are  us  clear  as  ever 
they  were." 

'•  Do  you  know  who  It  is?" 

"  Yes;  it  is  young  Barton." 

The  earl  8]x>ku  with  perfect  calmness,  but  the  countess  started 
and  sei/.ed  his  arm,  staring  at  him  with  an  expression  almost  reacb- 
Inf;  the  »ubliinc  ot  horror.  6hii  was  as  astonished  at  the  calmness  q| 


Iv 


PASSION. 

a.  Later  on  In  llie  day  ho  would 
111  the  coiilUlnut  of  tliia  species 
lol  hide  trom  himself  that  there 
he  position  by  tliic  concession, 
-and  in  two  years  no  one  knew 
11  it  was  due  to  hif  paternal  dif!;- 
ive  been  forced  into  a  submission 

found  the  Connless  of  Tilbury 
cer  was  lecovering  rapidly,  spile 
lad  exiicrienced  the  day  before. 
Ininess  whieli  had  eiisiied  upon 
iit;8  had  not  been  so  prolonnd  on 

died  the  subject  which  was  oc- 
rncd  all  that  had  taken  place  on 
ied;   that   of    the  counteas  was 

(aid.  "  For  reasons  which  1  may 
miction  that  things  would  be  ar- 
any  romantic  affection  lot  him, 
•liiif-s  would  becon  c  warmer  and 
80  ht.  About  this  1  .lave  no  doubt 
once  in  a  lite  time;  and  it  enfves 
liould  haNc  to  suHer,  as  he  will 

souV" 

1  not  understand  her.  It  appears 
goon  deal  you  can  never  kuow," 

the  earl.  .    ,.    , 

L'rfectly  thunderstruck,  and  utterly 
ent  with  Lady  lilanche's  conduct 
"  Impossible,  my  dear  earl— im- 

Eavorins  »o  beat  down  by  emphatic 

iteil  in  her  bra'u.  Whe  remembered 

about  Burton— but  that  was  too 

"  trom  what  1  kno^  !" 
jssed  it  to  me  last  night,"  said  the 

dear  brotherl"  cried  the  countess, 

I  troubled  smile. 

'  It  she  were,  there  might  be  soma 

no.    Uer  wits  are  as  clear  as  ever 


calmness,  but  the  countess  started 
m  with  an  expression  almost  reacb- 
laa  as  aslouisbed  at  the  calnxness  ot 


A     WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


253 


his  lono  and  manner  iu  making  the  dreadful  announcement  as  at 
the  tad  itself. 

"Oil,"  she  said  at  length,  "you  are  joking,  my  lord,  or  you 
would  never  speak  of  it  so  coolly  as  that.' 

"  Aly  dear  Dora,  1  never  was  more  serious  in  my  life— nor  she 
<'ither,  1  am  sorry  to  say.  And,  what  is  more,  llarlon  knows  of  it— 
ancl  returns  it— as  you  may  well  suppose." 

•'ll  is  absoluleiy  incredible  and  incomprehensible!"  said  llie 
countess,  delivering  hei-self  of  llie  polysyllables  in  long-drawn  ac- 
cents. She  clasped  her  haudn  logethtr,  and  looked  at  the  carl  with 
a  face  full  of  struggling  doulil  and  conlusion  of  mind.  If  surprise 
be  an  element  of  art,  this  stroke  oi  Lady  IJIauche's  was  iu  thai  re- 
spect supreme. 

"  Oil,  what  ought  1  to  do?"  said  the  countess.  "  I  have  told  you 
there  uie  reasons,  known  only  to  me,  why  1  can  not  believe  this.  I 
can  not  accept  il  as  possible.  1  can  not  reconcile  it  with  any  notion 
of  i.laiiclie's  Iriitlifiilness  or  candor  or  c(>niiiinn  sense!  And  yet  I 
promised  her  fai'lifully  1  would  not  tell  a  word  to  any  one  aboul  it 
llcjiven  help  me— wliiit  ought  1  to  do?" 

The  curl  was  surprised  at  this  exhibition  of  feeling  on  the  part  of 
his  sister,  which  he  saw  was  based  on  some  solid  grounds  of  infor- 
iimtioii. 
"  What  is  the  nature  of  this  secret?"  be  in»iiiired. 
"  Why,  it  related  to  this  very  (lueslion— the  state  of  her  heart 
the  di.-posal  of  her  hand.     She  discussed  it  with  me  no  later  than 
Monday." 

"  Is  it  inconsistent  with  her  confession  to  me— her  acknowledir- 
meni  to  George  Barton  that  she  loves  him?" 

"  To  my  mind,  (juile,"  said  the  countess,  who  spoke  candidly 
tlioiigh  in  fact  her  deduction  was  wrong. 

..  i>,^  "'J  "•'"*'  ^^  mistaken,  my  dear  Dora,"  said  the  carl 
lilancho  is  too  clear- headed,  too  brave  and  straightforward  to 
have  said  anything  inconsistent  with  the  exact  truth.  1  seem  to  bo 
siiriounded  by  mysteriis  just  now.  1  can  not  guess  at  the  nature  of 
tlie  declaration  of  which  you  make  so  tremendous  a  secret  1  only 
know  his:  whatever  she  thought  or  said  on  Monday,  she  knows  now 
that  she  loves  George  Barton,  or  she  would  not  have  said  so  under 
circumstances  which  gave  a  peculiar  solemnity  to  her  confession  of 
it  both  to  him  and  to  me." 

"Why,  this  is  inily  dreadful!"    cried  the  countess— dismay 
shock,  surprise,  grief,  all  combined  in  lone  and  look 

Appreciation  of  a  certain  extrava^'ance  in  this  exclamation,  and 
lie  accidents  thereof,  kindled  into   momentary  sparkle  the  peer's 
line  sense  of  humor,  as  a  breath  of  wind  wakes  up  the  smothered 
glow  of  a  burning  "  spoil-bank  "  at  the  mouth  of  acoal-pit— a  sud- 
den gleam  of  Jiglit  amid  the  blackness,     lie  gave  a  little  lauirh 

'  ^s  'f  so'ej-y  tr^Kic  alter  all?"  he  said,  slyiy.     "  It  is  romantic, 
ir  you  like,  but  our  family  has  a  tendency  to  that  sort  of  thinjt  " 

Not  ours,  William!    I  fear  it  was  imported.     Blanche  some- 
times IS  very— vcry—Freuchy— don't  you  think?" 
There  was  a  dangerous  glow  in  the  earl's  gray  eyes,  but  he  said, 

•'  Like  Uer  mother,  you  mean?    I  thought  you  were  very  strong 


364 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


i 


on  your  T^or.nan  dcscont,  Dor.,.    Didu'l  the  steal  William  and  his 

*^'^VXM,;^7ou'K:..^:'''S!iiiea  the  counters,  llusUinj-,  "that  I, 

''""Tow  dl'y'o:  iu^owT  Wh'imve  you  been  dipping  .nto-Oreen. 
FrcnZ  Nicholas?  1  rather  tlnnU  our  family  sprunsi  from  Anjou. 
S  have  foli  any  special  and  preeise  information  that  they  ^vero 

""'.Cnei^e"  sS'Z  countess.  •'  1  never  trouble  myself  about 

'"''?|^r:fM;ri::'f;ia'ShX"'nau.eles«  charn.  which  Franco 
B,.en.Ttoll^.d  to  its  rudest  stock,  which,  in  tbU  rough  country  we 
l.arimued  through  generations  to  lose,  it  we  have  acquired 
"er ne  "u^n  b  cr  .lualilics.  Tov.ch  not  that  subject  Dora,  ^ou 
can  not  can  to,  but  you  do  jar  a  harsh  chord  m  n.y  hear  .  She- 
lan  noi  lULiu  jji    (.      .••  i  ,,y\^a  slie  were  here  now! 

""n!roountes8"ut'llcr'm,e-sia;o.lhana  caressingly  on  the  back 
of  his  and  said,  witli  feminine  inconsequcntialilv, 

'At  al  even  s  he  has  no  Norman  ancestry  to  boast  of . ' 
"  (vi     -1?    to   ?  C;iearlv  Norman.  1  guess,  will,  a  lUt  e  trouble, 
1  shall    ciible  to  get  a  htiaUVs  certificate  that  his  ancestor    came 
Ler  with  the  Conqueror.'    There  is  no  difflcully  there.     Wc  can 

soon  arrange  that."  _ 

li«»  Kiiiiled  somewhat  maliciously. 

•'  Vou  are  in  a  tireson.e  humor.-""  retorted  the  countess,  changing 
ilip  crouud  acaiu.     "  The  son  ot  your  b.ulift!" 

She  eCAed  to  see  him  wince  und.^r  ths  little  ptick  of  the 
feminlue  bodk  n  but.  to  hei  surprise,  he  showed  no  consciousness. 
He  took  't  serlmisly.  It  really  seemed  as  if  he  were  anxhMis  to  en- 
,....,„i,.r  ilii"»  first  trial  ot  hs  pr  de  and  conquer  it.  those  small 
Sul..r  pe\forations\^re  like  cupping  to  a  lumbago- a  sort  ot 

"•'A''^',!;\ttlhfZ  o\  an  h'o'est,  an  honorable  a  mos,  worthy  fi. 
ther,  and  such  a  son  as  any  noble  cf  the  laud  might  be  proud  to 

"^' Ob"iell  "  cried  the  countess.  Impatiently,  with  a  toss  of  the 
head  "'oT  course,  if  you  have  settled  the  matter  in  your  own  mind. 

^^"  ButT  havai't.  my  dear  Dora!  This  is  just  It.  1  never  was 
more  annoyed  or  woriled  in  my  lite.  It  is  precisely  the  "-ost  super- 
fldall?  Spropriate  an.l  least  essentially  improper  comb  na  ion 
that  1  ever  had  o  pass  opinion  on.  She  is  a  splendid  gir  ;  he  is  a 
noble  aUe  high  spirited  fellow;  he  has  rendered  me  great  services; 
he  is  des  iued  to  a  brilliant  career;  that  career  1  can  assuio  b  m; 
lut  as  vou  hint,  be  is  a  plebeian.  No  use  iiying  to  gi  d  hat  far- 
thing  and  iUs  it  tor  a  sovereign.  U's  a '  bro wny.'  though  the  mmt- 
age  is  quite  as  good  as  any  other."  ^^ 

"  Ohl  vou  are  becoming  quite  a  Republican. 

••  No  "  sa  d  the  earl.  llghUy,  "  1  am  only  speaking  as  a  naturalist 
^pem.V8T«lioKa^.un>iI^^  you  know  that  theic  are 

copper  coins  worth  many  golden  eagles. 

•^vrd"uJ^riew,'eh?    Very  good'.    I  ubawUoft  oumismatology 


great  William  andliis 

tciis,  llusbina,  "  that  is 

•n  dippini!;  into— Oreeo, 
ily  spninV  from  Aiijou. 
imution  that  tlicy  %vcro 

rer  trouble  myself  about 

i  charm  which  Fr*nco 
this  rough  country,  we 
;e,  it  we  have  ocquireil 
lut  subject,  Dora.  Tou 
ord  ill  my  heart.  She— 
ere  here  now!  ' 
ciircssingly  on  the  back 
ilialily, 

ly  to  l)onst  of." 
less,  Willi  a  little  trouble, 
lh;it  his  ancestor  '  came 
ifflcully  there.     We  can 


rt  the  countess,  changing 
ift!" 

ths  liltle  prick  of  the 
showed  no  consciousnesn. 
if  he  were  anxious  to  en- 
onquer  il.  Those  small 
to  a  lumbiigo— asortot 

orable,  a  most  worthy  fa- 
j  laud  might  be  proud  to 

enlly,  with  a  toss  of  the 
natter  in  your  own  mind, 

is  just  it.  1  never  was 
,  precisely  the  most  super- 
ly  improper  combination 
is  a  splendid  girl;  he  is  a 
endered  me  great  services; 
career  1  can  assure  him; 
ise  iiying  to  gild  that  far- 
jrowuy,'  though  the  mint 

ilican." 

ly  speaking  as  a  naturalist 

,  you  know  that  there  are 


I  abauUoft  oumJsniatology 


A    WKKK    OP    PASSTOK.  afif* 

nnd  mnlnplior.  But  seriously— I  liavo  told  j'ou  of  the  danircr. 
W  hat  is  to  he  done?"  * 

"  Put  your  foot  on  it  at  once;  it  is  out  of  the  question." 

"  Are  you  sure  of  Edward's  heart?  Is  there  no  doulit  about  his 
feelings?"  ln(]uircd  the  carl,  his  maimer  becoming  more  grave  and 
anxious  than  it  had  been  during  his  mischievous  sparring  with  his 
sister. 

"  None;  he  loves  her—madly." 

The  countess  selected  the  liotlrsl  adverb  she  had  at  hand,  but 
availed  herself  of  it  with  a  sense  of  its  exaggeration;  so  she  added, 

*'  Jn  least  1  mean  profoundly." 

"  Jl'm!"  said  the  carl,  and,  after  a  pause,  looking  now  keenly  at 
his  sister,  "  Will  he  work  tor  it— sacrillce  for  it— press  it  with  all 
his  niijrht  and  main— make  it  the  sole  luisiness  ol  his  life  for  two 
years?" 

"  For  leu,  1  am  convinced.  As  for  sacrillce,  he  will  do  anything 
tor  lier." 

There  was  a  singular  fatality  in  this  expression  of  the  coimtess's, 
which  she  employed  with  one  clear  meaning,  yet  which  was  suscej)- 
tible  of  two. 

"  1  must  see  him,"  said  the  earl,  musingly. 

"You  must;  but  say  very  little.  He  can  not  bear  much  yet, 
though  he  has  picked  uj)  wonderfully.  But,  you  ouufht  to  know,  he 
has  taken  a  queer  fancy  into  his  head.  I  don't  understand  it.  He 
wants  to  see— that  young  person,  you  know." 

The  peer  was  amused  at  the  pettiness  of  the  countess's  malice 
against  the  troublesome  vouth. 

"  You  mean  George  barton?"  he  said,  with  the  most  innocent 
air  in  tlie  world. 

"  Yes,  you  know  I  do.  When  Blanche  was  here  Edward  begged 
her  to  send  the  young  man  to  see  him  to-day." 

The  earl  looked  thoughtful,  l)ut  he  said. 

"  Oil,  he  alwaj's  liked  Barton — a  mere  kindly  wish,  1  suspect." 

"  1  don't  think  so.  From  his  manner,  1  judge  I'^lward  has  some 
design  in  his  head.     You  know  he  is  going  to  sell  ofT  Ids  stud?" 

*'  JNonsense!  A  conversion?  Has  l^ord  McCorquodale  been 
praying  with  him?" 

"  You  arc  lncorrigil)le,"  said  the  coimless. 

"  At  all  events  he  cim  not  wish  to  speak  to  him  almut  Blanche, 
my  dear  Dora,  and  that  is  the  subject  in  hand.  I  had  betlei  see 
Tilbury  myself.  My  idea  is  to  ask  ii  he  is  prepared  to  serve,  like 
Jacob,  for  ray  liachel,  for  two  j'ears,  with  the  difference  that  Ins 
reward  is  to  be  the  girl's  love— if  he  can  win  it;  if  not,  then  1  sup 
pose  we  must  let  it  take  its  natural  course  Bartonwiee.  However 
deep  our  disappointment  may  be.  1  "feel  unable  to  (uidertake  to 
stand  ov*.  against  Blanche's  resolution." 

"  Well,"  cried  the  poor  countess,  astonished,  puzzled,  vexed,  "  1 
really  do  not  know  what  has  come  0  7er  everybody.  Blanche;  is  a 
mystery,  Edward  seems  a  changed  spirit,  and  as  for  you—" 

"  J'm  a  predestinarian!"  interrupted  the  earl,  pulling  his  arm 
through  Ids  sister's  as  tliey  moved  toward  the  door.  "  But  se- 
riously, Dora,  1  have  become,  or  am  becommg,  a  very  ditiereut 


^ 


250 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


I::: 


miin     1  nm  tlilnkinc  of  indulcine  in  the  luxury  of  doing  a  lew 

irnnil  firls  bctorc  1  (lie— wliicli  may  not  lie  Umf;  now. 

^  TMnVoriookc.1  nt  him  gruvcly.  but  sni.l  notl.inK.    His  tone 

'  wK't'hHaSn  bin.  seated  at  l.ord  Till.urys  bed.ido  she 
made  an  excuse  lor  leaving  them  lOLrelher  Altnr  a  few  quesli  ns 
™  answers  about  his  nephew's  health,  the  senior  curl  came  nn- 
moahilelv  10  the  subject,  and  broached  it  m  no  light  tone. 
"'••  You  1  a.e  had  aUre  shake.  Tilbury,  and  it  must  have  made 
you  serious.  Thank  Heaven,  you  seem  to  le  ""t,  "/,  |«»«^,-  ^..^.^ 
must  think  now  about  your  sett  ling  down  to  married  life,  '^lo^v  do 
•naifera  Stand  between  you  and  Ulanchc?  ,      ...         <  i 

••Se  win  never  be  mine,"  replied  the  young  carl  with  a  sigh 
"but  1  wish  to  insure  her  happiness,  and  1  am  glad  you  have 
lolSiei  Jpon  The  subject,  as  ['intended  to  have  spoken  to  you 

''^'""■Youi  mother  whispered  to  me  something  about  a  disappoint- 
mcnl;T.t.Ty  dear  E.lward,  you  know-'  faint  heart '-you  must 
not  cive  it  up  without  an  efiort."  , 

-Ah  "  rcnlicd  the  young  man.  shaking  his  head,  it  Is  not  a 
faint  learttlmt  troubles  me.  My  resolution  is  strong  enough  f 
the  e  "ere  only  a  shadow  of  hope;  but  there  is  none.  Her  heait  m 
Scndr<4upied.  and  with  hei  1  know  what  that  means  1  should 
SvSl.Sf  trying  to  turn  out  the  n.anin  possession-holding  the 
aeasiolemieotf^^^^  No,  no.  1  have  too  deep  an  afteet.on  for 
her  to  desire  anything  Init  her  complete  happiness. 

"Why,"  «ai(i  l.oid  Selby.  surprised.;'  how  do  Y^"  ^n^^,  _  , 

yotKa"nlrS^n,!rora^L.tflTection^     H..ve^T  not  noted  every 

aSuhies  and  predilections  lay.  She  was  always  c«>ol,  d^  n  cr- 
3  unmoved  except  when  one  was  near  her  or  speaking  with  her. 
nn,inf  late  that  was  not  often.  Tlie  indications  were  so  slight  tha 
n  ?v  escined  ev^S  eye  but  mine,  which  had  the  clairvoyance  of 
they  escaped  every  cj|>         like-though,  God  knows,  without  any 

ofT  m.;iice^Tor  tlfe  mrilln^^^^^^^^  it  bi«  position  and 

^ortJme  are  notbhVto  or  mine.    She  lovea  George  Barton- 

^".'1  n  tv^Kei  \hVtr  cried  the  earl.    "  Have  you  had  no 

'^^V^^^^^XSi!^^'^^'^^  to  mono 

^""ew  if  "'said  young  Tilbury,  drawing  a  deep  breath;  "  and 
shemSstnotbecrossk    Inch  a  girl  as  Blanche  is  must  have  her 

exprts  purpose  ot  encouraging  you  toj.rcss  your  suit.    My  ideu 
was  to  put  oil  a  decision  for  two  years. 


ON. 

B  luxury  of  doing  n  lew 
mif;  now.'' 
sail!  notliinf;.    His  tone 

(1  Tilliiiry's  liedsido,  slie 
Altnv  a  few  qiiesliona 
tlio  senior  curl  came  ini- 
u  no  lijrlit  tone. 
,  and  it  mtist  Jiave  made 
>  le  out  of  dnufier.  We. 
to  married  life.   "How  do 

yoimg  carl,  with  a  siRli, 
nd  1  am  Klad  you  have 
1  to  have  spoken  to  you 

hinp;  about  a  disappoint- 
-'  faint  heart  '—you  must 

ajr  his  head,  "  it  is  not  a 
ilinn  is  strong  cnoufih,  if 
lereis  none.     Her  heait  i% 
hat  that  means.    1  sliould 
in  possession— liolding  the 
ro  too  deep  an  aflcction  for 
appinesa." 
how  do  you  know?" 
tuition  ot  a  rival.     Have  1 
t  watched  her  with  all  the 
t     Have  T  not  noted  every 
;n  by  her  lip,  her  oye,  her 
well  as  1  did,  where  her 
was  always  cool,  disintcr- 
ir  her  or  BDeakinp  with  her, 
ications  were  so  sllglit  that 
;h  had  the  clairvoyance  of 
Ch,  God  knows,  without  any 
worthy,  it  his  position  and 
She  loves  George  Barton— 

J  earl.    "  Have  you  had  no 

ee  her  face  when  his  name 
had  let  me  know,  with  i"- 
ase  was  hopeless  " 
idmitted  as  much  to  me  no 

iwing  a  deep  breath;  "and 
i  Blanche  is  must  have  her 
■  lord.'.'  .       , 

Iby.  "  I  came  here  for  the 
»  press  your  suit.    My  idea 


^■p-'c^- 


A    WREK    Olf   WflfltON. 


2f.7 


"  Yon  majr  put  It  or  for  twenty  with  those  two,"  said  young  Til- 
bury; "  it  will  make  no  dIfTerence.  Ko,  my  dear  uncle,  let  me  sug- 
gest something  better  than  that.  I  have  thought  it  all  <iul.  You 
know  that  ever  since  1  understood  the  matter — forgive  nie  for  allud- 
ing to  so  delicate  a  sul)ject— 1  have  never  been  satistied  tliiit  so  much 
ot  my  grandfather'3  property  which  ought  to  have  gone  to  you  and 
yours  should  be  coming  to  me,  who  have  already  more  than  1  know 
what  to  do  with." 

"  Say  no  moie  about  that,  Tilbury,"  said  tlie  earl,  in  a  choking 
voice.     "  1  have  never  given  it  a  regret." 

"  You?  1  know  that,  but  1  have;  and  1  am  uncomfortable  about 
it.  Now,  here  1  am— Blanciie's  cuusiu — loving  her  with  all  my 
heart  and  soul,  but  unable  to  get  her  to  accept  me  and  mine.  At 
least  1  can  show  her  a  cousin's— a  brother's  alleetion,  it  you  will— 
and,  in  order  to  smooth  the  way  to  the  acconipli»hmentot!icr  heart's 
desires,  1  intend  at  once  to  instruct  my  solicitors  to  draw  up  a  legal 
renunciation  ot  all  my  rights  of  succession  to  tlie  property  coming 
from  my  grandfather  Selby  after  my  mother's  death  in  Blanche's 
favor.  Justice  will  be  done;  it  is  no  more  than  justice.  1  shall  lose 
nothing  worth  speaking  ot,  and  she  will  then  be  able  to  many  any 
one  she  likes." 

The  Earl  of  Selby  stated  at  the  young  man— moved,  admiring, 
and  then  shook  his  head. 

"  Wo  will  not  discuss  it,  my  dear  boy;  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
assent  to  it.  Besides,  ill  as  you  now  are,  any  dis}K>8ition  3'ou  might 
make  would  be  nugatory.  Indeed,  you  could  do  nothing  more 
likely  to  defeat  your  own  object.  Whatever  we  may  think  of  George 
Barton,  we  must  Uo  him  the  justice  to  believe  that  lie  would  never 
consent  to  wed  such  a  fortune  as  that  until  he  could  show  some 
adequate  counterpoise  to  it.  You  would  postpone  the  weddin;;  until 
he  were  chief-justice  or  prime-minister." 

The  j'otmg  earl  was  struck  by  this  argument. 

"  You  are  right,"  he  said,  musing,  "  1  had  not  thought  of  that. 
No,  it  could  not  be  <1one  now;  but  it  might  be  understood  between 
you  and  me,  and  could  be  carried  out  afterward.  1  hoped  1  should 
be  able  to  persuade  Barton  to  agree  to  it,  but  1  think  you  are  right. 
It  is  belter  not  to  mention  it  at  present,  though  my  resolution  is  un- 
changed. There  is  one  thing,  liowevor,  we  can  do:  we  can  assure 
him  every  chance  of  getting  on.  \\  e  can  launch  hiin  mto  political 
life  with  a  strong  backin&r.  lie  is  &t  lor  anything,  and  will  soon 
make  his  position.  Will  you  promise  to  do  that?  Will  you  give 
your  consent  at  once?" 

The  Earl  of  Selby  looked  thoughtful;  his  eye  rested  kindly  and 
regretfully  on  the  fine;  earnest,  pallid  face  before  him.  Tiiis  noblo 
sacrifice— sacrifice  in  a  difierent  sense  from  that  conceived  of  by  the 
countes.s — enhanced  the  value  of  that  which  he  was  to  lose  in  Til- 
bury's abandonment.  Pure  indeed,  and  high  and  holy,  was  a  love 
which  could  act  with  a  geuerosity  so  chivalrous  and  noble,  and 
which  sprung  from  the  fine  undersoil  ot  a  nature  whose  better  quali- 
ties had  hitherto  been  concealed  unilcr  a  mask  of  youthful  cynicism, 
frivolity,  gayety,  irony  ot  tone  and  manner. 

"  1  have  never  liked  you  better  than  at  this  moment,  Ned,"  said 
the  Earl  of  Selby,  taking  Tilbury's  white  hand  in  his  own.    "  But  I 
9  .„. 


jjjg  '     A    WEEK    OF    I'ASSION. 

.  »  .  «,.„  Ui.iinvp  mc  mv  reasons  are  soiintl,  and  I 
can  not  consent  at.  once,  liellevc  i"^'  "'/  '  n,,c,iilar.  1  happen 
Uiink  judicious.  The  mrcumstances  are  veiy^^^ 
,„  know  them  all  but  1  can  n"^  ex,  k  .  tl^m  to  ou  1  ^^^J^^  J^^^^ 
to  Blanclie  that  ehc  should  ''^^^f,,,V/ro  showiiiK  th.it  he  is  worthy 
we  must  give  Bart...,  ='"  «J''?";^"'Se1.ilK  th^^  l>"8t  few  days,  in 
of  so  hish  a  prize.    1  .»"'''',,f^„7,,^ f  tr3tul  cal  innty.  to  obsefve 

lionally  high."  

Tl>e  countess  entered  the  room.  brother.    "  FrttWtw 

••  1  can  not  slay  any  longer,    ^^.^.f'^'*^ '?  "" i"' ,  jry  toward  Lord 

f,hVme—    WellV"    She  glanced  with  anxious  luipuij 

Tilbury.  . „!,)«.,  hnr  hand  "we  have  agreed  uiwn 

smiling  at  them.    His  agony  was  over  ..  ^^^  j 

"  ^'"l"  r'l 'hou^hri  Lew  ?lu  both '^wdf^  1  knew,  my 
am  surprised.     1  thought  i  Knew  yuu  You_you    especially. 

"That  is  precisely  what  has  uone  iii     »»■"  "" 

me.  1  am  sorry  to  say.  Dora  jou  ^^^^^J^'\^^^^^^  floating  over 
riiT rhosJS  but  rhri^^eil^r^  to  prStect  and  secure 

^"tIus  Son  was  relieved  from  an  awkward  explanation  with  the 
good  lady,  and  the  earl  was  free. 


,ION. 

reasons  arc  80\iml,  and  I 
very  peculiar.  1  happen 
lem  to  you.  It  is  only  just  . 
rcllect  on  tin  matter,  una 
ihowing  tli<it  he  Is  worthy 
Ihiu  thP  pnst  few  days,  in 
hliul  calamity,  to  obsefve 
,  with  you,  they  arc  excep- 

to  her  brother.  "  Faihksse 
;ious  iu(Hiiry  toward  liOril 

I  •'  we  have  agreed  ujwn 
peless  pursuit.  There  is  n 
,le  fellow,  though  ho  is  not 
ou  must  help  us  to  carry  it 
in  the  lij?htot  her  happiness 
I's,  heart  and  soul,  because 

Hi's  attitude  in  this  sublime 
hief  •  there  was  silence  for  a 
i  under  lip,  young  Tilbury 

,,  looking  up,  "  1  confess  I 
both  as  well  as  1  knew  my- 

II  of    you— you   especially. 
)U  of  posseasiug.    1  thought 
it  nothing  short  of  dynaaiito 
your  heait."  .  „  ,, 
ill"  said  the  Earl  of  Selby, 

shock?"  she  said,  gazing  at 

ell,  1  can  not,  for  the  h^nor 

in  generosity.    Next  to  you, 

Whatever  you  agree  upon 

i  blind  and  heart."  . 

and  formed  a  little  loving 
jiness  ot  Lady  Blanche, 
something. 

r  brother,  "  what  Mr.  Barton 
li  on  Monday?    It  was  surely 

lelped  him.  , .  ,  i .. 

formation  from  you  which  he 
learing  up  the  relations  exisl- 
rds  But  he  oblaineti  it  from 
Ned  hue  will  have  to  change 
V  heavy  charges  floating  over 
ken  care  to  protect  and  secure 

awkward  explanation  with  the 


A    WKEK    01'    I'ASSION.  869 


CHAPTER  XXll. 

FUOM   OAltKNr.SS   INTO  MdHT. 

Tub  hapless  mortal  buttling  witfi  spectpis  of  enemies  that  aro 
dead  and  ghosts  of  misfortunes  which  arc  imaginary,  while  behind 
him— unknown,  unseen,  unsuspected— blessed  rcnlities  of  love  and 
hope  are  standing  smiling,  only  waiting  to  catch  and  delight  his  eyes, 
is  one  ot  the  most  dismal  types  ol  human  fate.  The  lime  and  energy 
and  passion  we  waste  in  combating  shadoivs  ot  evil  we  ourselves 
conjure  up,  or  ot  perils  whose  substance  has  vanished! 

Such  a  mortal,  such  a  picture  of  human  fatality,  was  George 
Uarton  on  the  morning  after  the  events  which  culminated  In  Mr. 
yontag's  tragic  disappointment,  and  at  the  very  time  when  the 
winged  hours  were  bearing  in  upon  his  destiny  such  various  and 
lucky  <!hanges.    There  he  was  jmcing  his  room,  deep  in  thought, 
agilutetl,  sWeet  mingling  with  bitter,  cloud  clmsinfi sunshine,  melody 
runniuK  through  di.scord.     The  two  horns  ot  tli(  dilemma  between 
which  his  mind  and  heart  vacillated  were  still  defined  before  him 
more  clearly  than  ever— tlie  one  black,  ugly,  terrible;  the  other  fair, 
white,  iK)lished  as  ivory,  and  wreathed  with  llowers.     As  one  or 
the  other  showed  its  outlines  to  the  eye  of  the  mind,  his  lace  wore 
gloom  or  sunshine.  In  the  window  his  birds  tlung  out  their  melody 
in  joyous  trills  and  auronies  ot  sound,  and  every  now  and  then,  look- 
ing up  at  them  with  a  smile.  Ins  heart  seemed  lightened  with  a 
vague  hope.    Then  he  would  take  out  ot  his  Iwsom  that  little  white 
token,  with  Her  monocram  in  the  corner  trying  to  divine  wliat 
Bccret  messase  of  comfort  it  was  intended  to  convey  to  likn,  dis- 
tracted between  the  in.iJUlses  of  love  and  the  commands  of  duty. 
How  was  it  possible  to  reconcile  these  in  his  case?    He  had  been 
hoping  against  Iioim)— and  against  judgment  too— that  in  some  way 
the  punishment  of  ihc  Pollards'  crime  might  be  secured  without 
dragging  the  earl's  secret  out  to  the  light,  exposing  it  to  the  eyes  of 
iiiiilignant  gossips  and  malicious  partisans.     But' how  could   that 
possibly  be  avoided  if  the  Pollaids  were  driven  to  bay  charged  with 
a  crime  that  involved  their  lives?    He  recalled  having  once  been 
picscnt  at  the  Old  Bailey  when  an  eminent  counsel  was  defending 
a  man  whose  criminality  was  hideous  and  flagrant,  and  ho  had 
watched  the  efforts  ot  an  acute  mind,  subtle  in  resource,  replete 
•with  legal  lore,  unsparing  in  the  use  ot  its  weapons,  as  it  strove,  step 
by  step,  to  distort  the  obvious  truth,  to  disturb  the  equanimity  of  the 
judge,  to  confuse  the  senses  of  the  jury,  to  abuse  and  discrcilit  the 
witnesses,  and  all  to  win  the  questionable  honor  of  gaining  what 
seemed  to  4)e  a  hopeless  case;  and  thinking  of  the  Earl  of  Selby 
ohiigert  to  face  such  a  counsel  in  the  witness-box,  instructed  by 
such  a  firm  as  the  Pollards',  with  every  resource  ot  money  and  ot 
unprincipled  legal  skill,  his  heart  shrunk  within  him  at  the  very 
idea  of  forcing  Blanche's  father  to  endure  such  an  ordeal.  He  asked 
himself  how  she  would  regard  the  man  who  should  become,  he wevei 
innocently  and  unwillingly,  the  instrument  ot  divulging  that  shame- 
ful busiacbs  to  «Ul  the  world?    Yet  he  must  Uo  jt  or  write  himscU 


2U0 


A    WEEK    OF    PASSION. 


AVilh  a  IrcmWing  luuu  .  ""'    °"  f  "*fi,,'^S  K  resolved  logo 
he  took  up  his  l.u  .  nnd  >•' \^'"«  '  .r^/'^; ""^t  n«fect  trcedom  ot 

^Tit  before  ho  went  lo  Portman  8<>u.ire  bo  ^^^'J^ ^f^^'^'V''''''• 
\,oSSy  li^»^^^^'^  l«  caU  and  see  tLe  youug  Earl  of  Tilbury. 

keeping  Mrs.  ^''l'""""  ;,,,,, „^ouien'8  quarters  in  Portman  Hqu.ire. 
her  to  what  may  bo  tt™'«^7V",Tnn  1  on  Charks  having  some  let- 
Thus  she  ."v»""^''.""/,f,  :'""'K?i  ,he  tWh  and  -  ngUsh  journals 
ters  to  ^'i/;;  »•:' '"L''\t  puisuifot  that  ;S      knowledge  which 

Barton,  who  1"'^1  ^J?"'"^f,J^""TL  couu"e88  a^^^  brother's  earnest 
"'"^"r\*!i'd  ivc.7ov"r^n  a  phaeTon  to  sec  Mrs.  Barton,  and  loin 
request,  hatl  driven  «vtr  lu  »  ij"»  w,i8  the  iM-art  of  the  grand  daino 
the  party  at  lunch    Deep  y.  "^J«g- ^^,^',^5 "o  altered  and  grief- 

ineutsot  the  inner  man  «1"  '!^,'^,«  J^^  a™  forces 

'T^. '"  '^^iioTas  :Ked  b?  o^r  i?e"t^^^^  '"«>■'  o»l  "« 

cheek,  whisiiered,  x'.iworfl  cuessed  it  yesterday.    Weha^e 

Blanche  glanced,  puzzled  ?t  the  countess  J^^i'irface  but  happy 
SVatC"shrflKS;ih'a"tr  ci't rd  1  not  know  ••  all- 
Ihat  "be  earl's  secret  had  not  escaped,  to  her  at  leas  .  Jl^«";  ««  «J« 

"  YQurKr  lias  bcm  over  with  us  thjs  morwag.    Be  apa  TU- 


)N. 

lur  was  come  lor  rostind 
giew  keen  and  ffiarful. 
L  without  nolico  to  him. 
ong  iigony  ci  retlectioD, 
linR  brow,  resolved  logo 
thftt  perfect  freedom  of 
volved  the  sacrifice  of  his 

.0  would  fultlU  his  prom- 
ug  Earl  of  Tilbury, 

«  ♦ 

a  Lord  Clmrlc^'s  manner, 
)eing  alone  with  him  by 
list,  and  then  retiring  with 
larlers  in  Portman  Hquiirc. 
Charles,  liaving  some  let- 
jnch  and  KiigUsh  journals 
political  knowledge  which 
t  up  in  the  library,  where 
he  thou^lit  the  hour  bad 
piston  announced   George 
:  after  Ills  interview  with 
8,  at  hei  brother's  earnest 
sec  Mrs.  Barloo,  and  join 
lielieart  of  the  grand  dame 
oking  so  altered  and  grief- 
f  an  Iiour,  when  tlie  tocsin 
anary.  and  predatory  cle- 
18  the  trumpets  of  the  cap- 
used  all  the  dormant  forces 
jatest  fabulist,  rang  out  its 
ace  during  that  iulerview, 

0  eye  and  manner  of  the 
t  joy  in  the  face  of  Mrs. 
lie  dining-room,  which  au- 
ig  charactei  of  tlicir  talk, 
them,  was  strangely  moved 
ms  and,  kissing  her  on  the 

ised  it  yesterday.    We  ba%e 

1  insure  you  all  you  desire, 
le  and  arbitrary  little  minx? 
[f  the  other  morning!" 
aless,  but  she  saw  in  a  mo- 
1  and  gentle  face  but  happy 
itess  did  not  linow  "  all"— 
.  her  at  least.  Then,  as  she 
catching  her  tine  eyes  fixed 
tent,  she  saw  that  some  ex- 
it ken  place, 
she  said, 
this  jpormog.    Be  aijo  lU- 


A    WKKK    01'    I'ASfllOK. 


261 


bury  have  had  a  long  talk.  Edward  behaved  nobly,  Blanche.  You 
can  never  bo  grutefui  enough  to  him.  lie  was  tlio— angel's  advo- 
cate, 1  will  say,  iu  piefercucu  to  the  other,  you  know." 

"Dear  old  Dolly!"  said  Lady  Blanche,  with  streaming  eyes. 
"  lie  could  never  do  otherwise  tiian  bcliuvo  nobly.  The  sorrow  ot 
disappointing  him  sadly  mars  my  happiness." 

As  aim  was  speaking  the  door  opened,  and  George  Barton  came 
in  with  Lord  Charles.  Barton's  eyes  turned  llrst  toward  her  ais  to 
the  loadstar  of  his  fate.  I'Lvcept  that  momentary  glimpse  iu  the  dark- 
ness, this  was  the  lirst  time  he  had  seen  her  since  that  precious  hour 
in  the  Temple,  She,  conscious  that  the  sentiment  to  which  she  had 
just  given  utterance  might  seem — unless  sounded  to  its  protoundest 
depths  and  pioperly  analyzed— to  be  somewhat  disloyal  to  love's  jeal- 
ous autocracy,  blushed  as  she  caught  her  lover's  eyes  fixed  upon  her 
with  tender  but  melancholy  eagerness.  The  conversation  he  had 
held  with  the  Earl  of  Tilbury  wo;ild  have  brightened  any  man  iu  a 
less  mournful  position  than  Barton's.  The  young  carl,  without  al- 
luding to  the  iiilcliigenco  he  had  received  from  Lord  Selby,  had 
gradually  led  George  up  to  an  avowal  of  hia  love,  speaking  to  liini 
with  engaging  frankness,  admitting  that  he  had  tiiought  ot  his 
cousin  allectiouately,  and  had  desired  her  for  his  wife,  but  not  dis- 
coverlnu  too  much  of  his  feelings,  notoxposinsr  the  depth  of  his  pas- 
sion, fie  did  not  wish  to  magnify  to  his  fricna  or  to  Blanche  the 
service  bo  was  rendering.  lie  promised  cordially,  even  affection- 
ately, to  stand  Barton's  friend  with  all  concerned,  and  to  promote 
the  end  to  which  his  cousin's  affections  leaned;  while  he  candidlr, 
though  delicately,  let  Barton  know  that  it  was  tor  her  happiness  tne 
sacrlflce  was  made.  To  perform  all  this  with  perfect  sincerity,  and 
yet  without  wounding  the  (imour  propre  of  his  friend,  was  certainly 
a  nice  and  ditlicult  task  for  the  young  earl,  but  one  of  which  he  ac- 
quitted himself  with  perfect  success.  It  was  a  triumph  of  the 
purest  devotion.  For  hia  part.  Barton,  in  a  trying  position,  had 
displayed  a  manliness  and  refluement  of  feeling,  and  a  quick,  gen- 
erous 'sympatiiy  which  excited  the  young  carl's  admiration,  and 
would  have  convinced  liim,  were  further  proof  needed  by  him.  that 
the  man  wliom  Blanche  had  selected  was  fully  worthy  of  the  peer- 
less treasure  of  her  love. 

But  Tilbury's  quick  eyes  did  not  fail  to  perceive  that  in  Barton's 
cup  of  joy  there  were  some  drops  of  vinegar.  There  was  a  melan- 
choly in  his  tone,  a  certain  sadness  iu  the  deep  darkness  ot  his  tine 
eyes,  which  the  observer  could  not  understand.  Nay,  once  Barton 
had  inadvertently  let  slip  a  phrase  which  had  both  astonished  and 
wounded  the  young  lord.  The  latter  referred  hoi>efully  to  the  day 
which  was  to  crown  the  triumph  of  his  friend,  when  Barton's  face 
suddenly  became  clouded,  while  the  words  escaped  him— only  not 
commoiiplace,  because  ot  their  subjective  significance- 

"  Ah,  we  never  know  what  may  happen  to  quench  our  brightest 
hopes!" 

■Tilbury,  chilled,  surprised,  looked  earnestly  at  his  friend. 

"  Oh,"  he  said,  gravely,  "  such  good  fortune  as  yours  ought  to 
hsve  none  but  bright  presentimentsi" 

"  But  only  think,  my  dear  Tilbury,  how  rude  a  shock  to  our 
coufldence  iu  tbu  smooth  tun  ot  fortuuu  and  happiness  you  and  I 


m 


^'■i 


202 


V    WKKK    Ol''     I'AtSWION. 


and  whose  lie^h  y..unK  vo«c«h  ;  >  f  icail  «u'W  heavy  wlih  Hio 
shudONved  by  l>f«««"'V""'^  /„r„^^;i  trrow  1«  hia  own  lite  which, 
sense  ot  k  «^»'"i''^^*^''*'^'l  '  "  ^ci-  vcr  in  ..uUinyil  removed 
SruSi'f.::^'itlX:^.Kto"^i>e:i  ^1;^ ol  l-c  ...Prince  whUh 

observance  ot  her  a.mt  «'f  »'"'  ^.l^^",'  .^m  a  JKion*:    As  he  look  her 
imposed  uium  her  ten.led  to  litre wcuah^^^^^^^  ,^^^^ 

-Sir  is;/Kri^.^^^^^^^^^^        - 

"mII'SI  PW  ...  Bdb,  had  ».n  13.r,on  by  .h.  .rn,  and 

i.7r'5rsr;fvS!.':pSr»pii'KenM'»d  .u.ua .« 


ION. 

rs  lire  fast  runnliiR  iiwnyl 
1  hbinK  liHVo  \m;n  rouL'liiy 
jlie  will  ever  recover  tlitlr 

0  Kroiinds  ot  the  iinjjjulsh 
iijli  tlif  y  often  returned  to 

was  one  ot  the  strongest 

irk  at  iin  easy  pace,  calch- 
the  Uow,  glancing  at  tho 
,  or  gamhol'.'il  on  the  turt, 
re  untroulilod  l)y  cure,  uu- 
call  yu'w  heavy  with  tho 
[)w  In  hia  own  lite  which. 
Wery  unpt'illniyil  removetl 
palnol  the  sactillce  Which 

loola'tl  at  Laiiy  Hlunche.  a 
The  bluHh,  anil  a  slighl 
licit  the  presence  ami  keen 
(t  last  night  to  her  iallier 
agitation.  As  he  took  her 
.'  in  her  grasp,  ami  there 
whlcli  she  vainly  strove  to 
Lhe  two  elder  women  were 
iiuil  mutual  perturbation; 
iiwUwarilness,  the  face  of 
ilight,  his  luce  llusheil,  Ills 

liil.  ""Will  you  kindly  go 
ors.  IJarlon,  1  must  speak 
to  him  to  follow. " 

1  laughed,  as  he  placed  the 

h  him,"  he  said.  "  Thcro 
he  atmosphere  is  iiuite  olec- 
'ity,  hut  here  he  is.  What 
Jlanche  there  last  night  »o 
ftl  turning  up  until  midnight 
Mrs.  Barton,  1  can  vouch 
f  was  in  India  with  the  Gov- 

iken  Barton  by  the  arm  and 

i8t  seen  one  of  my  new  solic- 

lavc  boiled!" 

y  Hush  mounting  to  his  tem- 

1  escape?" 

i-day  to  their  office  to  get  my 

fusion.     It  seems  lo  me  the 

rd's,  drove  away  witliout  be- 

1  appointment,  ftud  that  is  all 


A    wnF.K    OK    I'Art.SloN. 


203 


they  know  nt  thcii  otfloo.  Neither  of  Ukmu  lian  iieen  «eei  ot  heard 
of  since.     Their  wIvoh  and  tamilics  are  di«tractc<i.  ' 

"  iMy  lord,"  said  llarlon.  hurricilly,  "  1  must  i„i>  at  onci)  to  Scol- 
iund  Yard,  They  must  not  cni him;— they  shall  not  escapel"  lie 
clinched  his  hands  uiiil  teeth.  •  My  father  h  bonor  can  only  be 
cluartMl  by  their  puuishipenl!  ' 

The  earl  saw  how  i)owerlul  a  sttiipgle  was  going  on  in  the  young 
man's  breast  as  he  uttered  these  woidl. 

"  Stay!  '  said  llie  peer;  "  I  will  go  with  you.  They  can  not  pos- 
sibly escape.  I  saw  both  8ontag  and  tlueliief  conimlssioner  late  last 
night.  We  passed  you.  Mlaiiche  and  1,  on  our  way  homo.  They 
assured  me  both  the  Poliurds  were  being  closely  watched,  and  if 
tliey  have  given  the  police  the  slip  for  the  moment,  depend  upon  it 
tliey  will  bo  slopped  belore  many  hours  are  over.  A  warning  has 
Ix.en  i?ent  lo  every  pan  ol  the  kingdom." 

.  George  Barton  listened,  but  was  only  gathering  strcmglh  to  per- 
form his  resolve.  His  tacc  had  grown  pale,  his  eyes  were  glowing 
with  lire  he  could  not  suppress;  for  within  him,  even  then,  iluty 
was  doggedly  resisting  the  soft,  persuasive  voice  ol  love. 

"  81111,  my  lord,"  he  said,  firmly,  "  1  feel  that  1  must  act.  At 
present  ihero  is  no<harge  wliattver  ajiainst  these  men.  The  revela- 
tion of  their  Infamy  can  no  longer  be  delayed — unless — unless — we 
are  lo  connive  at  a  failure  of  justice.  And  oh,  my  lord,  forgive  me 
— 1  don't  know  how  lo  say  ill— attii  all  the  kindness  and  confidence 
you  have  shown  me,  with  my  heart  urging  me  to  turn  aside,  to  hold 
my  hand,  and  let  these  villains  go,  Idare  not,  1  can  not  shrink  from 
the  task  of  vindicating  my  father's  innocence,  of  bringing  his  mur- 
derers to  justice.  You  can  appreciate  my  jtosltlon— I  am  sure  you 
will — it  is  a  drcadtul  one;  and  there  is  sometbing  as  yet  unknown 
to  you,  which  you  may  never  learn,  Ihal  makes  it  moredreadful  than 
you  can  even  imngine  lo  ask  youi  leave,  as  1  now  do— and  my  heart 
is  torn  and  l)lee(ling  with  anguish  while  1  ask  It— to  reveal  all  1 
know  to  the  i)olice." 

The  earl  had  watched  him  while  his  face  betrayed  the  anguish  of 
bis  feelings,  and  tho  beads  gathered  on  his  noble  brow.  Ho  seemed 
to  force  the  words  out  through  his  pale  lips  with  a  terrible  effort. 
EnliKhtenid  by  the  hint  which  Lady  Blanche  had  thrown  out  tho 
night  bcfoic  as  lo  the  fearful  dilemma  which  was  distractinit 
George's  mind,  he  guessed  all  that  was  going  on  within  that  young, 
strong  bosom.  The  old  cynic's  licart  was  touched  and  melted,  lie 
could  have  stopped  him  nt  the  third  sentence,  but  he  had  wailed 
until  he  was  quite  sure  of  the  line  that  George  Barton  had  decided 
to  take;  for,  knowing  what  a  fearful  temptation  there  was  to  post- 
pone, or  altogether  lo  evade,  the  action  whl<!h  filial  alTectioQ  and 
duty  alike  peremptorily  demanded,  ho  wished  lo  seo  whether  there 
would  be  the  slightest  shrinking  or  equivocation  in  meeting  the 
call.  And  it  was  no  mere  curiosity  wnich  prompted  the  earl's  mo- 
mentary reserve,  lie  was  beginning  to  feel  a  strong  movement  Of 
a&ection  toward  the  youth  who,  in  circumstances  so  rare  and  try- 
ing, had  exhibited  such  remarkable  resources  of  intellect,  sucli  ster- 
ling qualities  of  heart  and  conscience.  It  was  tho  attraction  which 
one  strong  soul  feels  toward  another. 
"  1  can  blow  away  this  trouble  at  a  breath,"  said  the  earl  to  him* 


'*.- 

i 


!• 


an4 


A    WKKK    Ol-'    I'ASmoN. 


But  now  h(.  ;uw  it     '';>-"";  '7  ,7;;;;;',  ^.o„ih  would  Hucritlr. 

lite.nmWllon.  .uul  love  V\     '   ',  j;//;/"  k',,    „t  The  oM  Sp.irtnn  or 
„t  th.-w-a  n-uMon  7,  ' '' '  ^Z;!  X^  1  «  .      I'  to  ,ill  Ihr..,  will,  a  vivi.l 
cblvalric  »>«'^|»'\"r.      ,  7?Mh,     uonv  ot  l.U  sdt  iil.andoniufut. 
'^^rtreli'^Sc'S'Stw^::^^^  . -a  Umaly  on  U.  Hhoul. 

irir'S\ir"rutr;in.;.i..^^  thanVou  wo«u. .... 

ft8U(Wen8iuishlnoH..slcM    into    .  wlUMU  1  ^^j^,       ,^^ 

"Najr.  nay.  C.corKo.-    «"«!  '\'''/'"Vt  w,     "h  •  who  thought  ol  it. 

K^';^rrsri"-'. -'^  -  «"o.  .^.o  ..p 

""^"a'}/" '5o"'our  own  heart  an  Inluslice." 

„l8tHke  not,  from  «o"'f  I' "«  «^^  ^  ^  "'on  1  rather  he  I.ehohlun  to 
S^r^r a»  tIJSSnf .hant ;/o^  eise  in  the  .oria.    Is  .t  not 

-"i'sly  Bmile  bad  come  over  the  earl's  face  U8  bo  said  those  wonln. 

lave  believed  it  p..88iblov^hile  >«  >  ^^ ,«;  '"^^v.ice  yonr  age.  that 
confidant  and  the  "^e"'"/,  "*"'""  t  from  me  second  only  in  im- 
nil  the  while  you  were  >''»'"«  ^'^"^.isX.rconse.iuenoeB.  to  the 
portance,  and.  I  fihouUl  add.  '""\V,."„o  Barton.  Georgn  Barton, 
Le  iwas  confiding  to  youl   ,f„^' ^S  I  ever  "ad  to  «^^^  wits 

.  tone  ot  that  which  George  »»"o°',^''°  ^'^^uch  as  he  would  have 
would  have  shrunk  t^o";„ «,XSrcani8m  to  a  member  ot  the  royal 
recoiled  from  propounding  l\«P*™,u^^^  Manning  bad  re- 


•tier  tlml  li«  iiliouUl  liavf 
lunipluiiilly.  Ihiin  lluit  \w 

ikIi.  Tliti  trial  wn**  •'*'"> 
tlilH  youth  woulil  Hiicritlcn 
HI'  hu  llglitly  rc'narileil  any 
Kii  "I  tl>«  "''>  Spartnn  or 
1^'  to  all  llirw!  wllh  a  vivlil 
hi*  sdt  aliniHhMinifut. 
huud  kimlly  ou  his  Hhoul 

lA  (lone— it  is  <loi>et  Don't 
l,.)a  till)  l'<>li«'o  t'vc^ylhi^^' 
Ifcly  llian  you  would  ever 

I  with  a  i)U/.7.1c  I  face;  then 
lew  ilropn  in  tliu  eveH- 
ril!"  he  cried,  seizing?  the 
crisli  (■ner^'y. 

'  don't  cive  n\e  any  credit 
,iia  she  wlio  thought  ol  It., 
uUl  not  allow  me  to  sleep 

itice." 

ler  nil  the  cicdlt;  and,  If  1 
iR-  sir.  about  which  1  Imvo 
woidd  rather  he  Ijeholden  to 
else  in  the  world.     Is  it  not 


face  as  he  said  these  words, 


aid,  with  an  nssiimption  ot 
ihnrles  appear  to  have  lieen 
tor  you,  Oeorue.  I  could  not 
re  slttiuK  hero  and  acting  the 
)re  ihau  twice  your  age,  that 
rom  me  second  only  ui  im- 
laslrous  conseiiuences  to  the 
irco  Barton,  George  Barton, 
isi  1  ever  bad  to  cross  wits 
nv  all  the  deceits  1  have  prac- 
1  ungratetul  country,  in  Hnd- 
edaed  banister!" 
his  ears.    Was  this  really  the 
)e  speaking  in  a  mocU-seriouB 
vho  was  a  brave  youth,  loo, 
im  as  much  as  he  would  have 
lism  to  a  member  oi  the  royal 
bat  Cardinal  Manning  had  ro- 
ize  sought  and  searched  thq 


A    WEEK    01'    I'AHSION. 


2t;5 


depths  ot  the  earl'H  i:riiy  vyvu  to  try  and  n^ad  the  iiieaDlng  ol  thin 
Mloundlng  franKiof  mind.  

•'  My  lord-"  ho  liegan,  anil  stoppid,  pu/zleil,  Iroubloil,  trum- 
bllni!. 

Till  earl  smiled.  ,       .        ,        . 

"  Vou  we.'  ho  said.  "  1  have  a  private  detective  department. 
Nny.  the  Iriilh  Im,  Ulanrhf  hiw  bi'ira.\ed  you,  and  coutesseU  all. 
IJui'llit"*  must  wail-tliis  niiiHl  wait." 

"  Mr   Soma,',  my  lord!"  criiNl  Colnton.  throwiug  o|»'U  the  door. 

and  the  Clilef  ot  the  Dott-cllvo  Di  imrliiu'ut  walked  In.    lie  apiHJarcd 

excited  and  not  dinpleaned  with  hiiii^ell.  ,    .  ,  ,         „  „. 

•  ror«:ve  me.  my  lord,  tor  Inliuding  upon  you,  but  I  have  mosi, 

slarlling  ue««,  and  1  have  taken  the  liberty  ot  comins?  on  with  It 

"'""welcome.  Mr.  Hontai;.  whatever  your  news!  1  hope  you  havo 
caimlil  the  vllli.ins."  critd  the  cnrl.  in  ii  lone  Hoslnuere  that  Milher 
of  Ills  amlilors  doubltd  It.  albeit  Soiilug  marveled  deeply  to  himself. 

'■  Kiom  our  iioint  ol  view,  mv  lord,  it  la  belter  news  than  that, 
though  pei.Hoiiiilly  I  am  Urrtbly  disappointed  .by  what  has  hap- 
pened.    IJotli  the' I'oliiiiiU  lire  dead." 

'•  Dead!"  nhouted  the  earl  and  young  Barton  together. 

A  long  »i"li  ot  reliet  ettcuped  In  ni  the  peer's  breast.  Barton  felt 
us  It  l»y  a  single  stroke  ot  un  omniiiotcul  pen  his  dilemnm  had  licoa 
fitruck  out  of  trie  records  of  his  life.  .  ,       ..    _ 

"  l)o«idi"  repeated  .Mr,  J^outag.  "  Execullon  has  overtaken  them 
before  jiidument.  (Jno  died  slain  by  the  other's  hand,  the  other  in 
reclsting  arrest.  1  say  1  nni  sorry,  my  lord  (exeejit  tor  your  sake - 
because  it  relieves  you  from  any  anxiety  In  regard  to  the  matter 
vou  mentioned  last  night),  for  It  was  a  wonderfully  Interesting  case- 
one  of  the  most  Interesting  aud  beautiful  eases  Ui  ail  my  experi- 
ence However,  lliero  is  some  coinpeusalion:  we  have  secured,  1 
believe,  the  principal  agent  in  the  crime.  It  not  the  actual  murderer 
and  his  assistants.  A  romance-a  perfect  romance!  Hu  l»|d  ruu 
on  In  (he  very  vaeht  which  those  two  scoundrels  had  provided  tor 
their  own  escaiie  by  purloining  trust  funds  which  lay  in  their  hands. 
Between  thiee  and  tour  this  morning  she  cpuie  into  collinlon  in  the 
Channel  with  a  large  steamer,  and  this  man  Yates,  with  the  cttpUiii 
and  crew  are  all  In  our  hands  at  Dover,  along  with  the  disabled 
vacht  i.nd  the  body  ot  our  missing  Ueteclive,  Mcl.aren.  The  crow 
are  all  known  vagabonds.  1  ex|>eel  we  shall  bwIul'  up  at  least  half 
of  them  and  we  .shall  vindicate  llie  honor  of  my  department,  and 
avenge  the  death  ot  a  very  usotul  fellow.  But  permit  me,  eail, 
heartily  to  congratulate  you  u\)oa  the  turn  evenU  have  taken.  1  ou 
must  teel  greatly  relieved  that  you  will  only  have  to  face  an  inquest 
instead  ot  a  trial,  and  that  the  mouths  ot  these  villains  are  closed 
forever.  Will  you  permit  me  to  say  that  this  is  the  only  consola- 
tion 1  have  for  the  uin^atisf  actory  nature  of  tuo  deiuiuetnent  1 
The  peer  held  out  his  hand  to  the  detective.      .      ,. ,       ,^  ,. 

"  It  is  a  verv  terrible  one.  Mr.  Sonlag,"  he  said,  but  H  would 
be  Idle  for  me  to  alTect  not  to  feel  thankful  that  this  awtul  business 
should  have  ended  as  it  has.  And  I  fancy  that  my  yoi-ng  Iriend 
licre  will  not  be  disposed  to  (luairel  with  you  as  the  bearer  ot  sucU 
news.    CJare  must  be  taken  at  the  Imiucst  to  bring  out  clearly  tUo 


»    1 

I,  ' 

I       ,1 


?;: 


;> 


A    WKEK    OV    rA.SSION. 

lionorubic  part  pluyctl  by  my  poor  niurdLied  friend  in  all  IIiIh  hual- 
ness;  and  when  his  >;0()d  name  is  cleared  nuither  Mr.  Unrtoti,  1  uiii 
8iiri>,  uor  1  will  teel  any  grutilieutiun  :it  the  tearful  pinilahnieut 
which  these  wretched  men  have  drawn  down  on  their  'iwn  heads." 

Afler  a  brief  conveigalion,  in  which  thej' discuBse:!  tojiether  the 
course  to  be  pursued  at  the  inquest,  the  carl  insiHlin<r  dial  the  re- 
ward he  had  promised  should  be  placed  at  the  disposid  ot  the  chief 
commissioner,  to  be  allotted,  as  lie  might  think  tit,  anions  the  de- 
tectives who  had  been  emploj'ed  in  the  investigation,  witli  a  s|ieciid 
reservation  of  i'DOO  to  the  wife  and  family  ot  McLaren,  Mr.  Soutaj; 
took  leave. 

The  carl  accompanied  him  to  the  door.  As  ho  was  leaving  the 
room  he  Haid  to  liarton, 

."  1  e.xpecl  y(Mi  arc  no  more  inclined  than  1  am  to  indulge  ia  a 
lunch  after  such  iiitellii^cnce  as  has  just  reached  us.  Wait  bcie  a 
few  minutes  and  I  will  join  you." 

Barton,  left  to  liimself,  walked  up  and  down  the  room,  his  hands 
clasped  and  pressed  tightly  on  his  heart,  which  seemed  to  be  ex- 
panding within  bim  almost  to  bursting  with  relief,  gratitude,  and  a 
sense  of  reviving  strength  and  joy.  Swiftly  his  thoughts  ran  over 
all  the  incidents  and  experiences,  the  quick  variety  ot  transforma- 
tions from  hope  to  despair,  from  dread  and  grief  to  sweet  delight, 
through  that  short — long  week  of  passion,  which  bad  found  him  a 
youth  and  left  him  a  man:  and  while  he  was  thinking  ot  the  glori- 
ous comfort  which  had  been  born  ot  his  sorrow — as  many  a  glad 
and  noble  life  has  sprung  from  the  womb  of  anguish  and  death — 
the  door  opened,  and  i^ady  Blanche  entered  the  room.  She  seemed 
a  little  pnle  and  agitated. 

"Oh,  George,"  she  said,  as  he  started  forward  and  look  her 
hand,  "  what  has  happened?  Tlie  earl  called  me  out  of  the  dining- 
room,  and  said  some  very  grave  inlelligenec  had  arrived,  and  lie 
added,  '  Go  to  the  library— Barton  is  there:  1  suppose  you  would 
prefer  hearing  good  news  from  his  lips  to  any  other,'  and  ho 
pinched  my  ear.  Wliftt  does  it  mean?"  8lie  was  aliout  to  sink  into 
a  chair,  but  George  Barton  took  her  in  his  arms,  pressed  her  to  his 
heart,  kissed  her,  and  cried  out, 

"  Oh,  Blanche,  Blanche,  don't  you  know  what  it  means?  It 
means  that  all  our  troubles  are  over,  ana  that  you  arc  mine— that 
you  are  minel" 


THEBND. 


.7 ."; 


I'ASSION. 

inirdeied  friend  in  all  lliis  hml- 
3lc!ired  neither  Mr.  Hartwi,  1  am 
Hon  :it  the  tearfnl  pn.nlshnii'ut 
iiwn  down  on  their  '.vvn  heads." 
hicli  they  discusse;'.  together  the 
It,  the  earl  insistinf;  tiiat  the  re- 
;accd  at  the  disposid  ot  the  chief 
•  might  think  fit,  arnouf?  the  de- 
tlic  investigation,  with  asjieciai 
taniily  of  McLaren,  Mr.  Soulaj; 

ic  door.    As  ho  was  leaving  the 

ined  than  1  are  to  indulge  in  a 
8  just  reached  us.    Wait  heie  a 

ip  and  down  the  room,  his  bauds 
}  heart,  which  seemed  to  be  ex- 
iting with  relief,  gratitude,  and  a 
Swiftly  his  thoughts  ran  over 
the  quick  variety  of  transforma- 
Iread  and  griet  to  sweet  delight, 
passion,  which  had  found  him  a 
lile  he  was  thinking  of  the  glori- 
1  of  his  sorrow— as  many  a  glad 
le  womb  of  asiguish  and  death— 
le  entered  the  room.     She  seemed 

c  started  forward  and  took  her 
>  earl  culled  me  out  of  the  dining- 

inteiligencc  had  arrived,  and  he 
n  is  tliere;  1  suppose  you  would 

his  lips  to  any  other,'  and  he 
•an?"  She  was  about  to  sink  into 
er  in  his  arms,  pressed  her  to  his 

,  you  know  what  it  means?  It 
ver,  ana  that  you  arc  mine— that 


'yph 


BND. 


'  t  i 


ADVUnTTSBMHiNTS. 


JAMBgrLE'S 


THE    BEST 

WasUni  Coqoiil 

EVER   INVENVED. 

No  XjOdy,  Married  or  f)in> 
gle,  Hich  or  Poor,  Houso- 
keeping  or  Boarding,  will 
be  without  it  ai'ter  testing 
its  utility. 

Sold  by  al'i  first -class 
Grocers,  but.  beware  of 
worthless  iiai'ajtions. 


MITNUO'S   PUBr.TCATIONS. 

The  Seaside  Library 

270  The  Wandering  Jew.    By  Eugene  Sue.    Parts  I.  and 

II.,  each 2ft 

279  Little  Goldie.    By  Miis.  Sumnkii  1 1  ayoen Sft 

284  Boris.    By  "  The  Duchess  ". ..........  1» 

280  Deldee;  or,  Tlie  Iron  Hand.    By  F.  W>  t^en  . .......  20 

880  May  Blossom ;  or,  Between  Two  Loves.    By  Mah- 

GAiiET  Lee gO 

845  Madam.    By  Mks.  OLiPUAN;r 8» 

859  Tlie  Water-Witcli.    By  J.  Fenimore  C oofer. 20 

862  Tlie  Bride  of  Lammermooi,  By  Sir  tv  alter  Scott.  .  20 
For  sale  l)yall  newsdealers,  or  will  be  sent  to  any  address,  post- 
age free,  on  receipt  of  12  cents  for  single  numbers,  avid  25  cents  for 
double  numbers,  by  the  publisher.  Parties  orde.ijg  by  mail  will 
please  order  by  numbers.  ,>, 

(SEORUS   MVNKO,  Publlnher, 
P.  O.  Box  3791.  f  '«  2*  Vandt/wnter  Htree*. 


WHAT  IS  SAPOUQ? 


It  is  a  solid, 
handsome  cake 
ofscouriDBSOap, 

__       whiih    has  no 

eiinat  for  airoleiinlnfr  purposes  except  the  laundry.    To  use  it  Is  to  value  it. 
Wlmt  iviil  Saixilio  do?    Why,  It  will  clean  pnlnt  Miake  oil-clorhs  brlgbt,  am 
■Iveaa  new  ai)p«arauce 

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111  The  Little  School  iiinster  Mark. 

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112  The  Waters  of  Maiah.  By  .John 

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139  The  Romantic  Adventures  of  a 

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141  Slie   Loved   Him!     By   Annie 

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142  Jenifer.    Bv  Annie  Thoi.iaa....  20 

143  One  False,  Both  Fair.     J.  B. 

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144  Promises    of    Marriage.      By 

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145  "  Storm-Beaten :"  God  and  The 

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146  Love  Finds  the  Way.  By  Walter 

Besant  ai'd  James  Rice 10 

147  Rachel  Ray.   By  Anthony  Trol- 

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14S  Thorns  and  Orange-Blosuonis. 
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157  Milly's  Hero.  By  F.  W.  Robin- 
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158  The  Starling.  By  Norman  Mac- 
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159  A  Moment  of  Madness,  and 
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107  Heart  and  Science.    By  Wilkie 

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171  Fortune's    Wheel,  and    Other 

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172  "  Golden  Girls."   By  Alan  Muir  20 
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177  Salem  Chapel.  By  Mrs.Oliphant  29 

178  More  Leaves  from  the  Journal 

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179  Little  Make-Believe.    By  B.  h. 

Farjeon Vi-'i;-'  * 

180  Round  the  Galley  Fire.    By  W. 

Clark  Russell 10 

181  The  New  Abelard.    By  Robert 

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188  Old  Contralrv,  and  Other  Hto 

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184  Thirlby  Hall.    By  W.E.  Norris.  20 

185  Diui.     By  Lady  Mai-garet  Ma- 

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186  The  Canon's  Ward.    By  James 

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187  The  Midnight  Sun.  By  Fredrika 

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188  Idonea.    By  Anne  Bcnie 20 

189  Valerie's  Fate.    Mra  Alexander   5 

190  llDmance  of  a  Black  Veil.    By 

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101  Harry  Lorroiiuer.    By  tHiarles 

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198  At  the  World's  Mercy.    By  F. 

Warden 10 

198  The  Rosary  Folk.    By  G.  Man- 

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Alison •••  10 

The  Way  of  the  World."    By 
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196  Hidden  Perils.    By  Mary  Cecil 

Hay 10 

197  For  tier  Dear  Sake.    By  Mary 

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198  A  Husliand's  Story 10 

199  The  Fisher  Village.    By  Anne 

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300  An  Old  Man's  Love.    By   \n- 

thony  Trollope •  10 

201  The  Monastery.    By  Sir  Walter 

Scott ^ 

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803  John  Bull  and  His  Island.    By 

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a04  Vixen.    By  Miss  M.  E.  Braddon  15 

205  The  Minister's  Wife.    By  Mrs. 

Oliphunt .-  30 

206  The  Picture,  and  Jack  of  All 

Trades.    By  Charles  Reado..  10 

207  Pretty  Miss  Neville.    By  B.  M. 

Croker IJ 

208  The  Ghost  of  Charlotte  Cray, 

and  Other  Stories.    By  Flor- 
ence Marryat 10 

809  John  Holdsworth,  Chief  Mate. 
By  W.  Clark  Russell 10 

810  Readiana:  Comments  on  Cur- 
rent  Events.    By  Chas.  Roade  10 

211  The  Octoroon.  By  Miss  M.  E. 
Braddou 10 

912  Charles  O'Malley,  the  Iriali  Dra- 
goon. By  Chas.  Lever  (Com- 
plete in  one  volume) 30 

813  A  Terrible  Temptation.  Chas. 
Reade 15 

214  Put  Yourself  in  His  Place.  By 
Charles  Reade 20 

816  Not  Like  Other  Girls.  By  Rosa 
Nouchette  Carey T) 

216  Foul  Play.     By  Charles  Reade.  15 

817  The  Man  She  Ca=-ed  For.     J 
F.  W.  Robinson 15 

818  Agnes  Sorel.  By  G.  P.  R.  James  16 
310  l*4y  Clare ;  or.  The  Master  of 

QieFotge^  By Qeorgeg Ohnet  10 


NO.  PItlOB. 

a-JO  Which   Loved  Him  Best?    By 

the  author  of  "  I  )ora  Thome  "  10 
a21  CNunin'    Thro'   the   Rye.      By 

Helen  B.  Mathers 15 

a-."!  The  Suu-Mald.  By  Miss  Grant  15 
','^3  A  Sailor's  Sweetheart.    By  W. 

t;iark  Russell H 

2".!  I  The  Arundel  Motto.  Mary  Cecil 

flav IS 

',•25  The  Giant's  Robe.  ByF.Austey  15 

■i-X  Friendship.     By  "Ouida" tO 

3\!"  Nancy.    By  Rhoda  Broughton.  15 
3v'8  Prinei'ss  Napraxine.   By  "  Oui- 
da"   20 

229  Maid,  AVite,   or  Widow?     By 
Mrs.  Alexander 10 

3;«)  Dorotliy  B'orster.     By   Walter 

Besant 15 

'£n  Oriimii  (Jaunt.  CJharles  Reade  15 
232  Love  and  Jlonoy ;  or,  A  Perilous 

Secret.  By  Charles  Reade. ..  10 
2.'i3  "  I  Say  No ;"  or,  the  LoveI*tter 

Answered.  Wilkie  Collins....  15 
231  Barbara;  or,  Splendid  Misery. 

Miss  M.  E.  Braddon 15 

285  "  It    is    Never    Too    Late    to 

Mend."    Bv  Charles  Reade. ..  80 

230  Which  Shall  It  Bo?  Mrs.  Alex- 
ander   20 

23"  Repented  at  Leisure.  By  the 
author  of  "  DoraThorue"...  15 

2.18  Pasoarel.    By  ''Ouida " 20 

■£iO  Signa.    Bv  "  Ouida  " 20 

2111  Called  Buck.  By  Hugh  Conway  10 
211  The  Baby's  Grandmother.    By 

L.  B.  Walford 10 

842  The  Two  Orphans.  ByD'Ennery  10 
243  Tom  Burke  of  "  Ours."    First 

half.    By  Cliarles  I*ver 30 

243  Tom  Burke  of  "  Ours."  Second 

half.    Bv  Charles  Lever 20 

844  A  Great  Mistake.   By  the  author 

of  "  His  Wedded  Wife" 80 

215  Miss  T(jminv.  and  In  a  House- 
Boat.    By  Miss  Mulock 10 

i40  A  Fatal  Dower.  By  the  author 
of  "  His  Wedded  Wife  " 10 

247  The  Armourer's  Prentices.  By 
Charlotte  M.  Yonge  10 

248  The  House  on  t)"-  i)Iarsh.  F. 
Warden 10 

849  "  Prince  Charlie's  Daughter." 
By  author  of  "  Dora  Thotne  "  10 

250  Sunshine  and  Rosea;  or,  Di- 
ana's Discipline.  By  the  au- 
thor of  "  Dora  Thome  " 10 

251  The  Daughter  of  the  Stn*s,  and 
Other  Tales.  By  Hugh  Con- 
way, author  of  "Called  Back"  10 

252  A  Sinless  Secret.    By  "  Rita  " . .  19 

253  The  Amazon.  By  CarlVosmaer  10 

254  The  Wile's  Secret,  and  Fair  but 
False.  By  the  author  of 
"  Dora  Thorne  " 10 

855  The  Mystery.  By  Mrs.  Henry 
Wood W 

850  Mr.  Smith:  A  Part  of  HiaLite. 
By  Ij.  B.  Walford V 

#' 


THE  SEASIDE  LIBRARY.-Pocket  Edition. 


85"  Beyond  Bocall. 

geaiit 

968  CmmiiiM.     Ry  1 


pnicic, 
By  AJfllne  Bei- 


B.  Walforil... 


869  Tlie  Bride  of  MonteCristo.    (f 
-       SfQiiel    to    "  The  Coimt  i> 


(A 
f 


Moute-Cristo."  By  Alexander 

MO  Proper  Pride.  By  B.  M.  Croker  10 
861  AFairMuid.  By  K  W.  Uol>iii»<m  SO 
802  The     Count    of     Mi>tile-t!riBto. 

Parti     ByAlexandirDiiiiinB  30 
90S  The    Coiinl    of     Moutt- (Jrmlo. 

Purtll.  ByAlextiiidi'rliimiftH  fcO 
963  An  Isliinaol'lte.    By  Miss  M.  K. 

Brnddou ,••■ •••■   '" 

8ft4  Pi^ldoiiolie,  A  French  Detective. 

By  Fortuiifi  Dii  BoisKobcy .  •  ■  •  10 
36.^  Jiufitli  Slialiespenre :  Her  Lovo 

Affiilrsand  Oilier  Adventures. 

By  Williiua  lilacli •.   10 

966  The  Water-Baliii's.  A  Fflfiiy  'lalo 

for  a  Land-Baby.  BytlieKev. 

Chai-les  Kingsley.^.. ...••.••  10 
867  Lam  el   Vane;   or,   Tlie   Olrls 

Conspiracy.     By   Mrs.  Alex. 

M(!Vei«li  Miller ••  20 

968  Ladv    (Jay's    I'ride;    or,   11m 

Misers   Treasiue.     By   Mrs. 

Alex.  McVeiKh  Miller 20 

869  Lanca.ster'8  Choice.     By  Mrs. 

Alex.  McVeiKh  Miller 80 

970  The  Wauderint?  Jew.     Part  I. 

By  Enseue  Sue •  •  ■  20 

S70  The  Wandering  Jew.    Part  IL 

By  KuRene  Sue *0 

871  The  Mysteries  of  Paris.    Part  I. 

By  EuKone  Sue ■  •  *0 

871  The  Mysteries  of  Paris.  Part  II. 

ByfiupeneSue 20 

872  The  1 -it  tie  SiivaKe.    By  Captain 

Marrynt •  •  ■  •  •  •  ■  •  •  ■  ■ 

.  873  Love  and  Miraye :  or,  1  he  Walt 
ine  on  an  Island.  By  M, 
Betlianv  Ed  wards. . 

874  Alice,  Uraud  Ducliesa  of  Hesse, 
princess  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland.  Biographical  bltetch 
and  Letters ••,••   ;-i;V/ 

975  The  Three  Brides.    Charlotte  M. 

Yonge •• •■■  ^" 

876  Under  the  Lilies  and  Roses.    By 

Florence  Marryat  (Mi-s.  Fran- 
cis Lean) ;•    10 

877  The  Sui:geon'8  Daughters.    By      | 

Mrs.  Henry  Wood.    A  Man  of 
Pis  Word.    By  W.  E.  Norris.  10 

878  For  Life  :.nd  Love.    By  Alison.  10 
979  Little  Goldie.  Mrs.  Sumner  Hay- 

jen *o 

880  Omnia  Vanitas.    A  Tale  of  So- 

ciety.   By  Mrs.  Forrester. ....  10 

881  The  &juire'8  Lee&uy.    By  Mary 

CJecilHay........ ■■  ••  15 

883  Donal  Grant.    By  George  Mac- 

Donald ••  •■••  w 

863  Tlie  Bin  of  a  Lifetime.    By  the 

author  of  "Dora  Thorne"...  10 
9U  Ooriai    Bf  "  "i^^  Duchess  "    <  <  10 


10 


10 


10 


NO  PRIOB. 

•^tvi  The  Gambler's  Wife ....    80 

aSO  Deidee;  or.  The  Iron  Hand.    By 

F.  Warden 20 

287  At  War  With  Herseir.    By  the 

author  of  "  Dora  Tliome  ". . .  10 

288  From  Gloom  to  Sunlight.  By 
the  author  of  '  Dora  Thorne     10 

asa  John  Bnll'8  Neighbor  in  Her 
True  Light.  By  a  "  Brutal 
Saxon  '• ............  10 

290  Nora's  Love  Test.  By  SUry  Cecil 
Hav • /.•••  80 

291  Love's  Warfare.  By  the  author 
of  "  Dora  Tlionm  " •  •  •  •  10 

292  A  (lolden  Heart.  By  the  author 
of  "Dora  Thorne'" 10 

293  The  Shadow  of  a  Bin.  By  the 
author  of  "  Dora  Thorne  ".. .  10 

294  Hilila.  Bv  theauthorof  "  Dora 
Thorne" 10 

295  A  Woman's  War.  By  the  author 
of  "Dora  Thorne^' 10 

290  A  Hose  in  Thorns.  By  the  au- 
thorof  "Dora Thorne "......  10 

397  Hilary's  Folly.    By  the  author 

of  "Dora  Thorne" 10 

298  Mitchellmrst  Place.  By  Marga- 
rot  Veley VTli-,-:-  ^" 

299  The  Fatal  Lilies,  and  A  Bride 
from  the  Sea.  By  the  author 
of  "Dora  Thorne" •  10 

800  A  Gilded  Sin,  and  A  Bridge  of 
Love.  By  the  author  of  "Dora 
Thorne  " •  • JS 

801  Dark  Days.    By  Hugh  Conwwr.  » 
30S  Tlie   Blatchtord  Bequest.    By 

Hugh  Conway. ..... ... . . . ....  W 

303  Ingledew  House,  and  More  Bit- 
ter than  Death.  By  the  author 
of  "  Dora  Thorne  " W 

304  In  Cupid's  Net.  By  the  author 
of  "  Dora  Thorne  " 1<» 

305  A  Dead  Heart,  and  Lady  Gwen- 
doline's Dream.  By  the  au- 
thorof  "Dora Thorne" 10 

806  A  Golden  Dawn,  and  Love  for  a 
Day.  By  the  author  of  "  Dora 
Thorne'*' •  ■  •  •  • .  •  •  •    l" 

807  Two  Kisses,  and  Like  No  Other 
Love.  By  tlie  author  of  "Dora 
Thorne'' l^ 

308  Beyond  Pardon -v  w '  V 

309  The  Pathfinder.  By  J.  Fenl- 
moie  Cooper •  ■ .  •  • 20 

310  The  Prairie.  By  J.  Fenimoro 
Cooper ;•  .-•••r-i;-  *" 

311  Two  Years  Before  the  Mast.  By 
R.  H.Dana,  Jr •••■■  20 

313  A  Week  in  Killarney .  By  "  The 
Duchess" i,- •••,-,•■• 

313  The  Lover's  Creed.  By  Mrs. 
Cashel  Hoey. .......... .... .  ■  IB 

314  Peril.    By  Jessie  Fotherglll. . . .  20 

815  The  Mistletoe  Bough.  Edited 
by  Miss  M.  E.  Braddon 20 

816  Sworn  to  Silence;  or.  Aline  Rod- 
ney's Secret.  By  Mrs.  Alex. 
McVeigh  IUUer....i.-M S" 


ocket  Edition. 

PRIOK. 

nbler'BWlfe ....    80 

or.  The  Iron  Hand.    By 

rdPD ■■■  * 

With  Heraeir.    Dy  the 
r  of  "  Dora  Thome  ". . .  10 
llooni  to  SiinllKht.    By 
thor  of  •  l>om  Thome     10 
iiUu  NeiRhbor  in  Her 
Liglit.    by  a   "  Brotal 

:.oveTeat.'  By  JUiy  Cecil 

ivarfiiro.  "liy  the  author 

>oraTlionio" 10 

iillourt.    By  the  author 

Jora  Thome'' 10 

iidow  of  ft  Bin.     By  tlie 
irof  "DoraTliorne"...  10 
Uv  the  author  of  "  Dora 

le'' 10 

an '8  War.  By  the  author 

)oraThorne^' 10 

ia  Thorns.    By  the  au- 

jf  "DoraThorne" 10 

fl  Folly.    By  the  author 

DoraThorne" 10 

lliurst  I'iace.    By  Marga- 

eley        lO 

UbI  Lilies,  and  A  Bride 
the  Sea.    By  the  author 

DoraTliorne" •  W 

ed  Sin,  and  A  Uridpe  or 
I.  By  the  autlior  of  "  Dora 

ne'"'^ W 

)ays.    By  HiiRh  Conway.  10 
llatclitord  Bequest.    By 

li  Conway •  •  ••  W 

ew  House,  and  More  Bit- 
lan  Death.  By  the  author 

Dora  Thome  " W 

pid'8  Net.    By  tlie  author 

Dora  Tliorne  " 10 

d  Heart,  and  Lody  Gwen- 
ie'8  Dreoni.    By  the  au- 

of  "DoraThorne" 10 

len  Dawn,  and  Love  for  a 
,  By  the  author  of  "  Dora 

rne'*' •••    W 

Cissea,  and  Lilte  No  Other 
e.  By  tlie  author  of  "Dora 

rne" 10 

id  Pardon VV,-V  ** 

Patlitinder.     By  J.  Feni- 

■e  Cooper 20 

Prairie.    By  J.  Fenimore 

per ■•• 

fears  Before  the  Mast.  By 

L  Dana,  Jr ••.-■  30 

ell  inKillarney.    By  "The 

;hess" i;--VV  ' 

Lover's  Creed.    By  Mrs. 

helHoey ■••■.-  i» 

By  Jessie  FotherRlll....  80 
Mistletoe  Bou(?h.    Edited 

Miss  M.  E.  Braddon 80 

n  to  Silence ;  or.  Aline  Rod- 
's Secret.    By  Mrs.   Alex.  __ 
Veigh  Miller «» 


THE  SEASIDE  LIBRARY.  -Pocket  Edition. 


am 
am 

SS3 


no.  I'RIOB.      NO. 

817  By  Mead  and  Stream.    Charles        Sl» 

C1H)1m>ii 80 

818  Tliu  Pioneers;  or.  The  Sources 

of  the  SuHijiiehanna.  By  J. 
Fenimore  Cooper 20 

819  Face  to  Face :    A  Fact  In  Seven 

Fables.  Bv  It.  E.  Francillon.  10 
mo  A  Bit  of  Human  Nature.     By 

David  Christie  Murrav 10 

881  The   Prodigals:    And  Their  In- 
heritance.   By  Mrs.  Oliphant  10 

838  A  Woman's  Love-Story 10 

lta;i  A  Willful  Maid 30    384 

an  In   Luck  at  Lost.     By  Walter 

Besaut 10 

885  The  I'ortent.    By  Qeorge  Mac-         355 

donald 10 

886  Phantastes.   A  Faerie  Romance 

for   Men    and  Women.     By 

Oeorife  Macdonald 10 

837  Riiynioiid's  Atonement.    (From 

tlie  Uerman  of   E.  Werner.) 

By  Christina  Tyrrell 20 

888  Biit)iole,  the  Pretty  Milliner.  By 

F.  Du  Boiseobey.  First  half.  20 
liS38  Babiole,  the  Pretty  Milliner.  Bv 

F.  Du  Boiseobey.  Second  half  80 
d20  The  Pol'sbJew.   ByErckmann- 

Chatrian .10 

j30  May  Blossom ;  or.  Between  Two 

Loves.    By  Margaret  Lee 20 

8S1  Gerald.    By  Eleanor  C.  Price ..  80    362 

832  Judith  Wynne.    A  Novel 20 

833  Frank    B'airleph  ;    or.    Scenes 

from  the  Life  of  a  Private 
Pupil.    By  Frank  E.  Smedley  20 

834  A  Marriage  of  Convenience.  By 

Harriett  Jay 10 

8*5  The  White  Witch.    A  Novel....  20 

836  Philistia.    By  Cecil  Power 20 

837  Memoirs    and    Resolutions    of         360 

Adam  Graeme  of  Mossgrsy, 
Including  Some  Chronicles  of 
the  Borough  of  Fendie.    By         367 

Mrs.  Oliphant 20    368 

aaa  The  Family  Difficulty.  By  Sarah 
Doudney 10 

839  Mrs.   Verekc^r's  Courier  Maid. 

By  Mrs.  Alexander. 10    870 

840  Under  Which  King?    ByConip-         871 

tonReade SO 

841  Madolin  Rivers;  or.  The  Little        873 

Beauty  of  Red  Oak  Sepiiuury. 

By  Laura  Jean  Libbey 20    873 

843  The  Baby,  and  One  New  Year's 

Eve.    By  "The  Duchess"....  10    874 
IMS  The  Talk   of  the  Town.     By 
James  .Payu 80 

844  "  The  W-iaring  of  the  Gre^n."         875 

By  Basil 20 

84&  Madam.    By  Mrs.  Oliphant....  80 

846  Tumbledown  Farm.    By  Alan        376 

Mulr 10 

847  As  Avon  Flows.  By  Henry  Scott 

Vince SO    877 

8tf  syom  Post  to  Finish.    A  Racing 
Bomance.    By  Hawley  Smart  80 
«i  (6) 


PRioa. 

The  Two  Admirals.  A  Tale  of 
the  Sea.  By  J.  Fenimore 
Cooper M 

Diana  of  the  Crosswayi.  By 
Qeorge  Meredith 10 

The  House  on  the  Moor.  By 
Mrs.  Oliphant 90 

At  Any  Cost.  By  Edward  Qar< 
rett 10 

The  Black  Dwarf,  and  A  Leg- 
end of  Montrose.  By  Sir  Wal- 
ter Scott... SO 

The  Lottery  of  Life.  A  Story 
of  New  York  Twenty  Years 
Ago.    By  John  Brougham...  90 

That  Terrible  Man.  By  W.  E. 
Norrls.  The  Princess  Dago- 
mar  of  Poland.  By  Heinrlch 
Felbermann 10 

A  Good  Hater.  By  Frederick 
Boyle 90 

John.  A  Love  Story.  By  Mrs. 
Oliphant 80 

Within  the  Clasp.  By  J.  Ber- 
wick Harwood 90 

The  Water-Witch.  By  J.  Feni- 
more Cooper 90 

Ropes  of  Sand.  By  R.  E.  Fran- 
cillon   90 

The  Red  Rover.  A  Tate  of  the 
Sea.    By  J.  Fenimorn  Cooper  90 

The  Bri(1e  of  Lamroermoor. 
By  Sir  Walter  Scott SO 

The  Surgeon's  Daughter.  By 
Sir  Walter  Scott 10 

Castle  Dangerous.  By  Sir  Wal 
ter  Scott 10 

George  Christy;  or,  The  Fort- 
unes of  a  Miustrel.  By  Tony 
Pastor 90 

The  Mysterious  Hunter;  or. 
The  Man  of  Death.  By  Capt. 
L.  C.  Carleton 90 

Tie  and  Trick.  By  Hawley  Smart  80 

The  Southern  Star ;  or, 'The  Dia- 
mond Land.    By  Jules  Verae  SO 

Miss  Bretherton.  By  Mrs.  Hum- 
phry Ward 10 

Lucy  Crof  ton.  By  Mrs.  Oliphant  10 

Margaret  Maitland.  By  Mra.  Oli- 
phant   90 

Phyllis'  Probation.  By  the  au- 
thor of  "  His  Wedded  Wife  ".  10 

Wing-and-Wing.  J.  Fenimore 
Cooper 20 

The  Dead  Man's  Secret;  or,  The 
Adventures  of  a  Medical  Stu- 
dent.   Bv  Dr.  Jupiter  Paeon..  90 

ARIdetolthiva.  By  Capt.  Fred 
Burnaby,  of  the  Royal  Horse 
Guards t 90 

The  Crime  of  Oiiristmas-Day. 
By  the  author  of  "  My  Duc- 
ats and  My  Daughter 10 

Magdalen  Hepburn:  A  Btory 
of  the  Scottish  Reformation. 
By  If  rs.  Oliphant ,,    'j» 


K'ji 


f 


THh;  SEASIDE  LIBRARY.-Pocket  Edition. 


JJO.  PRICK. 

8TH  niiiiiewiiril    Hmimi;     nr,    Tli« 
(!lm!te.   .1.  Fi'niriiorf  l\ii)|«*i'. •  ■** 

879  Hoiiio   an   I'duiiil.     (Si'iiut")   to 

"Hfinii'Wttrd  liouiul.   )    Hy  J. 
Feiiimore  Coojmm- ■   ■ .  •  ■»> 

880  Wyiinilolto ;     or.    The    Hiitted 

Knoll.    J.  Ft'iiiiniire  Cooper..  ■» 

881  TliH  Ucd  Caidiiml.    By  Frances 

KIlM.t ,•■■■■   •••■;  '" 

88i  Tluv.-  Sisters:   or.  Hketelies  of 

a    Highly    Original    fiimlly. 

Bv  Elsa  D'F.BlerreKeellnK...  10 
S83  Introduced  to  Society.  By  Ham- 

lltonAIdfi •.•■•  1" 

iM  On   Ilorseback  TliroiiRli   Asia 

Minor.  Capt.  Fied  Biirniiby .  SO 
885  The  Headsman;  or, 'I'lieAlibaye 

des  ViKnerons.     By  J.  Feul- 

more  Cooper ,•■•;••;;•■ ;  *^ 

880  Led  Astray ;  or.  "LalV  iteConit- 

esse."     By  Octave  Kemllot...   10 

887  The   Secret   of    the  Cliffs.     By 

Charlotte  French ■  -0 

888  Addie's  Husband;  or,  'IbrouKh 

Clouds  to  Sunshine.      BV  •h';  .„ 
author  of  '•  I.ove  or  I.nnds?     10 
880  Ichabod.    By  Bertha  Thomas  . . 

890  Mildred  Trevaulou.     By      lUe 

Duchess" ,■■ •  •■ 

891  The  Heart  of  Mid  Lotlilau.    By 

Sir  Walter  Scott .,  ■ . .  20 

892  Peveril  of  the  IVak.  By  Sir  Wal-  ^^ 

893  TheVlrato!By"sir  Walter  Scott  20 
804  Tho   Bravo.     By  J.   Feuimore 

Cooper .., •  ■  •  ■'" 

896  The  Archipelago  on  Fire.    By 

Jules  Verne ;•••;,■  '" 

896  Robert  Ord's  Atonement.     By 

Rosa  Nouchette  Carey M 

89T  Lionel  Lincoln ;  or,  The  Leaguer 

of  Boston.     By  J.  Fenunore 

Cooper •■ *" 


80 


20 
2U 


•iO 


20 


10 


PUICB. 

Jii  A  Bitter  Atonement.  By  Char- 
lotte M.  Biaeme,  author  of 
*•  Bora  Tliorne  ".. . .  _ . ... ....  •»> 

413  Some  One  Else.  ByB  .«.Croker  20 

4H  AMotit  and  Ashore.  By  J.Feni- 
more  Cooper    . •  •  ■  • 

411  Miles  WallluKford.  (Sequel  to 
"  Afloat  and  Ashore.")  By  J. 
Fenlmore  Cooper. ;;•••,• 

41.'>  The  Wai  8  of  the  Hour.  By  J. 
Fenlmore  Cooper. . . ... . .  •   • .  ■ 

410  JaoltTler;  or,  The  Florida  Reef . 
By  J.  Fenlmore  (Sooner  . . . ... 

417  The  Fair  Moid  of  I'erlli ;  or,  St. 
Valentine's  Day.  By  Sir  Wal- 
ter Scott ■^■■L;'iW  V 

418  St.  Ronan's  Well.  By  Sir  Wal- 
ter  Scott ^vVu.V 

419  The  Chainbearer ;  or.  The  Little- 
paRe  Manuscripts.  By  J. 
Fenlmore  Cooper. ^ 

420  Satanstoe;  or.  The  LittlepaRe 
JlanuBcript*.  By  J.  Fenlmore 
Cooper ■  • .  • •  "" 

421  The  Redskins;  or,  Indian  and 
Inlln.  Being  the  conclusion 
of  The  LittlepaKe  Manu- 
scripts.    .J.  Fenlmore  Cooper    20 

1'recaution.  J.Fenimore  Cooper  20 
Ihe  Sea-Lions;   or.  The   Lost 
Sealers.    J.  Fenlmore  Cooper  20 

424  Mercedes  of  Castile;  or.  The 
Voyage  to  Cathay.  By  J. 
Feidmore  Cooper. ..... . .....     W 

425  Tlie  Oak  Openings;  or, The  Bee- 
Hunter.  J.  Fenlmore  Cooper.  80 

420  Venus's  Doves.  By  Ida  Ash- 
worth  Taylor •••••  ■" 

487  The  Remarkable  History  of  Sir 
Thomas  Upmore,  Bait..  M.r., 
formerly  known  as  "  Tommy 
Upmore."    R.  D.  Blackmore.  80 

4'J8  Zfro;  A  Story  of  Monte-Carlo. 
By  Mrs.  Campbell  Fraed 10 


422 

.i2;i 


898Mattr  A   Tale   of    «   Caravan.  »y'r^.'j^-'»''^  j^^^  „^^ 

By  Robert  Buchanan    .^...  10    «»  ^"X  PopulatWs.    By  Wiliam 


20 


.S99  Mis's  Brown.  'bV Jernon  Lee  .  20 

400  The  Wept  of    Wish-Ton-Wish. 

By  J.  Fenlmore  Cooper,  .■■■••  20 

401  Waverley.    By  Sir  Walter  Scott  20 

402  Lilllesleaf ;  or.  Passages  in  the 

Lite  of  Mrs.  l>..argaret  Mait- 
!ond  of  Surayside.    By  ^"'S- 

403  An  EngUsii  Squire. '  C.  B.  Cole- 

404  In"^  Durance' vile,' and    Otlier 

Stories.    By  "  The  Duchess    .  10 

405  My  Friends  and  I.    Edited  by 

Julian  Sturgis. .............  10 

406  The  Merchant's  Clerk.  By  Sam- 

uelWarrefi ••••■•  10 

W!  Tylney  Hall.    By  Thomas  Hood  80 

408  lJ3ster's  Secret.    By  Mary  Cecil 

Hay ^ 

409  Rov's  Wife.    By  G.  J.  Whyte- 

MolvillB 20 

By  Mrs.  Oil 


20 


Melville. 
410  Old  Lady  Mary. 


pbant. 


10 


430  A  Bitter   Reckoning.    By  the 

author  of  "By  Croolced  Paths"  10 

431  The  Monlklns.    By  J.  Fenlmore 

Cooper  

4.33  The  Witch's  Head.  By  H.  Rider 

433  Mv  Sister  Kate.  By  Charlotte 
M.  Braeme,  author  of  "Dora 
Thome,"  and  A  Rainy  June. 
Djr  "Ouida" vv;  ■•«    *" 

(34  Wvllard's  Weird.  By  Miss  M. 
fi.  Braddon •  •  ••••■•  *" 

435  Klvtia:  A  Stoiy  of  Heidelberj; 
Castle.    By  George  Taylor....  ^ 

4.30  Stella.    By  Fanny  I^"?'^;- •  •  ■  ■  ^ 

437  Life  and  Adventures  of  MortUi 
Chuzzlewit.  By  Charles  Dick- 
ens.    First  half lii  •;,•  ^ 

437  Life  and  Adventures  of  Martin 
Chuzzlewit.  By  Charies  Dick- 
ens.   8e«0D<)l)aU «o 


m 


jcket  Edition. 

rmcE. 
Atonein««nt.    By  Char- 
1.   Uiwine,  BUlhor  of 

Tliorim" ■■■•  '-'J' 

eElse.  ByB  M.Croker  aO 
ul  Ashore.    ByJ.Feni- 

3oop»T   .  s!" 

alliiiKford.    (Sequel  to 
It  mid  Ashore.")    By  J. 

orp  Cooper •  •  "O 

^  8  of  the  Hour.    By  J. 

ore  Cooper •  W 

»■ ;  or,  The  Florida  Beef. 

Fenlmore  Crooner *" 

r  Maid  of  IVrlli ;  or,  St. 
tine's  Day.    By  Sir  Wal- 

Q(^  M 

all's  Well.    By  Sir  Wal- 

,qJ(     SO 

iiiiliearer ;  or.The  Little- 
Manuscripts.      By    J. 

lore  Cooper ^ 

oe;    or.  The  I-lttlepage 
script*.  By  J.  Fenlmore 

jj»  ™ 

Hlskiiis;  or,  Indian  nnd 
Being  the  conclusion 
'lie     LittlepaKe     Manu- 
ts.    .1.  Fenlmore  Cooper    * 
tion.  J. Fenimore  Cooper  siO 
-a-Llons;   or.  The   Lost 
rs     J.  Feuimore  Cooper  iW 
les  of   Castile;    or.  The 
iKe   to  Cathay.     By  J. 

mon^  Cooper ■  ■  ■  ■    *" 

ikOpeninRH-.or.TheBee- 
fer.  J.  Fenlmore  Cooper.  80 
'8  Doves.     By  Ida  Ash- 

h  Taylor •••••  -^ 

umnrkable  History  of  Sir 
tnas  Upmore,  Bait..  M.F., 
lerly  known  as  "  Tommy 
lore."    R.  D.  Ulackmore.  80 
A  Story  of  Monte-Carlo. 

«rs.  Campbell  Froed 10 

ei'stone;  or,  New  Men  and 
Populations.    By  WUiam 

e ^^ 

tter   ReckonlnK.    By  the 
lor  of  "By  Crooked  Paths"  10 
[onikins.    By  J.  Fenlmore 

per  

{■itch's  Head.  By  H.  Rider 

rffard *^ 

ister  Kate.  By  Charlotte 
Braeme,  author  of  "Dora 
>rne,"  and  A  Kainy  Junr. 

"Ouida" •,;;•■••«   ^° 

ird's  Weird.    By  Miss  M. 

Braddon • .  ■  ■  •  •  •  •  ••••■•  *" 

a:  A  Stoiy  of  Heidelberg 
itle.    By  GeorRe  Taylor.. . .  SO 

I.    By  Fanny  I..e\vald. .....  -w 

and  Adventures  of  Martin 
uzzlewit.  By  Charles  Dick- 

I.    First  half ;i;  •;,•  ^ 

and  Adventures  of  Martin 
uzzlewit.  By  Charles  Dick- 
5,   tjecoodbftW «" 


THE  SEASIDE  LIHRARY -Pocket  Edilioii. 


NO. 

4»9 

440 

441 

Mi 

44.1 
444 

415 

4in 

447 

448 

440 

4r>o 

4.'>l 

403 
4,W 
4.M 
4.'>5 
456 


piiirK. 
Found  Out.  Helen  H.  Slatliers,  10 
Ori'at  Kxpectations.    By  Clias. 

DickiMiH 20 

Mi'H.    LIrriper'a  LodKings.     By 

I'liarles  l)ickenK 10 

A  S.'a  ClumK'".     By  Flora   L. 

Shaw SO 

llantluirpe.    Uy  Oeor^e  Henry 

Lewes so 

The  Hiicheliir  i.f   I'iie  .Vlbany. ..  10 
The  Heiii-t  of  .lane  Warner.     By 

Florence  Slarryat SO 

The  Shadow  of  a  Crimo.    By 

Hull  (,'aine go 

Dame  Diirden.    Uy  "  Uita  " SO 

Anierlcaii   Notes.     By  Charles 

Dickens SO 

I'ictiiri's  From  Italy,  and  The 

MudfOK  Papers,  Jtc.   Uy  Clias. 

Dickens S(> 

Peeress  and  Player.    By  Flor- 
ence Marryat 80 

Godfrey  Helittoue.  By  (leorKiaua 

M.  Craik sO 

Market  HarboroURh,  and  lUHtde 

the   Bar.     By  U.  J.  Whyte- 

Melville  SO 

In  the  West  Countrie.    By  May 

C'ronimelin 

The  Lottery  Ticket.    By  F.  Du 

BoisKohey 20 

The  Mystery  of  Edwin  Drood. 

By  Cliaries  Dickens 20 

I.iazarus  in  London.    By  F.  W. 

Robinson so 

Bketchen  by  Boz.  Illustrative  of 

Every-day  Life  and  Every -day 

People.    By  Charles  Dickens'.  80 


80 


NO.  IMIICK. 

157  The  KuHNJans  at  the  dales  of 
Herat.    By  Charles  Marvin...  10 

458  A  Week  of  I'usslon ;  or.  The  1(1- 
leinnia  of  Mr.  (icorue  Iliirton 
the  Younger.  Uy  Edward  Jen- 
kins   SO 

450  A  WoTiian's  Temptation.  By 
Charlotte  M.  Hraeme,  author 
of  "  Diini  Tliorne" .-. . .     20 

400  Under  a  Shadow.  By  Charlotte 
M.  llraeme,  author  of  "  Dora 
Thorno  " sO 

402  Alice's  AdventiircH  In  Wonder- 
land. Hy  Lewis  Carroll.  With 
forty-two  illiistrntionH  hy 
.lohn  Tenniel 20 

■1(15  The  Fail's  Atoni'iniMU.  Uy  Char- 
lotte M.  Hrnenie,  author  of 
"  Doia  Tliiirne  " 20 

406  Between  Two  Love:?.  Hy  Char- 
lotte M.  Braeme,  auUior  of 
"  t)oi-a  Tliorne  " ao 

4ti7  AStriiKKle  f(jraHinK.  By  Char- 
lotte M.  Braeme,  author  of 
"  Dora  Thome  " 20 

108  The  Forliines.  Oood  and  Bad, 
of  a  Sewln(r-(lirl.  By  Char- 
lotte M.  Stanley JO 

•109  Lady  Dnmer'H  Secret.  By  Char- 
lotte M.  Braeme,  author  of 
"Dora  Thome" SO 

470  Evelyn's  Folly.     By  f^arlotte 

M.  Braeme,  author  of  "  Dora 
Thorno  " 20 

471  Thrown  on  the  World.  By  Char- 

lotte M.   Braeme,  aiitlior   of 

"  Dora  Thome  " SO 

m  A  Lost  Son.    Uy  Mary  Llusklll.  10 


d 


'■A 


V, 


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The  following  works  contained  In  The  Searidr  Librart,  Ordinary  WMtlon. 
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MRS.  ALEXANDER'S  WORKS. 

Her  Dearest  Foe 20 

The  Wooing  O't 20 

The  Heritage  of  Langdale 20 

Ralph  Wilton's  Weird 10 

Wiiich  Shall  it  Bo? 20 

Maid,  Wife,  or  Widow 10 

Tlie  Fieres 20 

Valerie's  Fate 10 

Look  Before  You  Leap 20 

The  Australian  Aunt 10 

The  Admiral's  Ward 20 

The  Executor 20 

Mrs.  Yerekcr's  Courier  Maid 10 

WILLIAM  BLACK'S  WORKS. 

A  Princess  of  Thtile 20 

A  Daughter  of  Heth 10 

In  Silk  Attire 10 

The  Strange  Adventures  of  a  Phaeton 10 

Kilmeny 10 


TjIS!  SHASritl'!  T.TUUAHY.-OrtUnnry  RiUtion         ^ 


10 


68  Tim  Monixrdi  of  Mincing  liRnfi "^ 

70  Madoiip  Violet  (siiinll  type) ^ 

604  Mailcnp  Viol.-l  (largo  typo) ■•   ^^ 

242  The  Throe  Fcnllicrs !  ™." "  'i,'  ■,■•* '  "»'^"m„  ,  ,*.'   ift 

800  The  Marriapo  of  Moira  FcrguH.  and  The  Maid  of  Klll...v.n.  10 

417  Macleod  ol  V):sf jq 

,1'.'.  T-atly  Sll verilale's  Hwecthcart ' '  ^^ 

U,^  Ovtcn  I'uRturcHBml  I'iccaililly ^^ 

%\n  svnUn  wings;  \  Yachting  Uomanco '*;.'.'."  10 

82tt  OliVLi  «V,M)miih ■  • g^ 

950  Sunrise:  A  :-.nry  of  Thews  rimes ^^ 

1025  The  TupH  <'f  Anrclius '.^^ 

1082  That  Heautif ill  Wretch '.^^ 

1101  The  Four  MacNicols •  •  •  •  • '  •  • " " . , 

264  Mr.  Pisislratus  Hrown,  M.P..  lu  the  Hi«>''"ndS;,  ••-  0 
142!)  An  A<Wentu.c  In  Thule.  A  Story  for  Young  Peu,, .  .  •  •  •  10 
1556  Sliandon  Bulls gO 

ures 


MISS  M.  E.  BRADDON't^  WOUK8. 

20 

26  Aurora  Floyd ,^q 

69  To  the  Bitter  End ..!.,...  20 

89  The  Lovels  of  Arden 20 

95  Dead  Men's  Shoes 'Hd 

109  Eleanor's  Victory 10 

114  DarrellMarkham .!...  10 

140  The  Lady  Lisle '^ 

171  Hostages  to  Fortune 20 

190  Henry  Dunbar 20 

21 5  Birds  of  Prey ! . . . !  20 

285  An  Open  Verdict ^ 

251  Lady  Audlcy's  Secret 10 

254  The  Octoroon 20 

260  Charlotte's  Inheritance 10 

287  Leighton  Grange ..!........  20 

295  Lost  for  Love ■■■■' jq 

822  Dead-Sea  Fruit '        ^0 

460  The  Doctor's  Wife .....,,.  8Q 

489  Rupert  Godwin •'  '   


lb. 


®       ® 


^ 


c9 


0      o 


THE  'seaside  iriiRARr.-fMlmarif  mUion. 


481  Vixen go 

483  The  Cloven  Foot 20 

500  Josliun  Haggard's  Daughter 90 

619  Weavers  and  Weft lo 

535  Sir  Jasper's  Tenant 20 

689  A  St  range  World go 

650  Fenton's  Quest 20 

663  John  Marclimont's  Legacy ao 

673  The  Lady's  Mile 20 

679  Strangers  and  Pilgrims ao 

881  Only  a  Woman  (Edited  by  Miss  M.  E.  Braddon) 9fl 

619  Taken  at  the  Flood... aO 

(Ai  OnlyaClod so 

649  Publicans  and  Sinners 20 

666  George  Caulfield's  Journey 10 

665  The  Shadow  in  the  Corner 10 

666  Bound  to  John  Company;  or,  Robert  Ainsleigh 20 

701  Barbara;  or.  Splendid  Misery 20 

705  Put  to  the  Test  (Edited  by  Miss  M.  E.  Braddon) 90 

784  Diavola;  or,  Nobody's  Daughter.    Part  1 20 

784  Diavola;  or.  Nobody's  Daughter.    Part  II 20 

811  Dudley  Carleon lo 

828  The  Fatal  Marriage 10 

837  Just  as  I  Am;  or,  A  Living  Lie 20 

943  Asphodel 20 

1154  The  Mistletoe  Bough 20 

1265  Mount  Royal 20 

1469  Flower  and  Weed lo 

1553  The  Golden  Calf [ 20 

1638  A  Hasty  Marriage  (Edited  by  Miss  M.  E.  Braddon) 20 

1715  Phantom  Fortune 20 

1786  Under  the  Red  Flag lO 

1877  An  Ishmaelite jjO 

^1916  The  Mistletoe  Bough.    Christmas,  1884  (Edited  by  Miss 

M.E.Braddon) 20 


CHARLOTTE,  EMILY,  AND  ANNE  BRONTE'S  WORKS. 

8  Jane  Eyre  (in  small  type) 10 

896  Jane  Eyre  (in  bold,  handsome  type) 90 

162  Shirley 90 

m  The  Professor. ,., .,,,..  10 


%-' 


rrrE  BSASIDE  LTBRARr.-Ordinary  BHHm. 

' — ■ "  10 

829  Wuthorlng  Hcighte qo 

488  Vlllette •••••••  •; '.*.'."."......  20 

967  The  Tenant  of  Wild  foil  Hail ^ 

1098  AgnesGrey ,.,  .)(,,; 

LUCY  RANDALL  COMFORT'S  WORKS.  rT 

495  Claire's  Love-Life 20 

682  Love  at  Saratoga '" 20 

672  Eve,  The  Factory  Girl 20 

716  Black  Bell 20 

864  Corisande •*•" ' 20 

907  Three  Sewing  Girls •"■" 20 

1019  His  First  Love ••• '"        20 

1188  Nina;  or.  The  Mystery  of  Love. ^ 

1192  Vendetta;  or.  The  Southern  Heiress •.••• ^ 

1254  WUd  and  Wilful •• oo 

1^  Elfrida;or.  AYoungOirl'sLove-Story •••  ^ 

1709  Love  and  Jealousy  (illustrated) ^ 

1810  Married  for  Money  (illustrated ) ■.".'..'".'.".!..  20 

1829  Only  Mattie  Garland. •••  —  •;•.••' '  * " ''  *  *  "l "  '^ "  * ' "     , ,    20 
iSo  Lottie  andVictorine;  or.  Working  their  Own  Way ^ 

,Z  Jewel,  the  Heiress.    ^^!^^:'^^^jrorU.;^.:::.  Z 
1861  Love  at  Long  Branch;  or,  Inez  Merivales  *o""^^   ^ 

WILKIE  C0LUN8'  WORKS.      '  '  ^   '  !    ' 

10  The  Woman  in  White 20 

14  The  Dead  Secret ...........-.•••  20 

22  Manand  Wife 20 

82  The  Queen  of  Hearts '.'...*... 20 

88  Antonina '.",!.'.".".. 20 

42  Hide-and-Seek '"'^ jq 

76  The  New  Magdalen ■' gO 

94  The  Law  and  The  Lady  .... : 20 

180  Armadale '" 10 

-   191  My  Lady's  Money "' ^9 

225  The  Two  Destinies 20 

250  No  Name 1® 

286  After  Dark ""   10 

409  The  Haunted  Hotel *'" jq 

488  A  Shocking  Story "' "//,,,,,„.  IQ 

487  ABoj^W'fW??:! >• 


fessusw^- 


i-dtnary  JBJWw*. 


TBB  BRASIDK  LISltARr.-Ordtmry  EiiH«n. 

661  The  Yellow  Mask 10 

888  Fallen  Leaves 20 

654  Poor  Mi88  Finch 20 

676  The  Moonstone 30 

696  Jezebel's  Daughter 20 

718  The  Captain's  Last  Love 10 

721  Basil 20 

745  The  Magic  Spectacles 10 

905  Duel  In  Heme  Wood 10 

038  Wlio  Killed  Zebedee? 10 

971  The  Frozen  Deep 10 

990  Tlie  Black  Robe 20 

1164  Your  Money  or  Your  Life -....  10 

1544  Heart  and  Science.    A  Story  of  the  Present  Time 20 

1770  Love's  Random  Sliot 10 

1866  "I  Say  No" 20 

J.  FENIMORE  COOPER'S  WORKS. 

Last  of  the  Mohicans 30 

324  The  Deerslayer 20 

The  Pathfinder 30 

229  Tlie  Pioneers 20 

231  Tiie  Prairie '-30 

238  Tlie  Pilot -»0 

685  The  Water  Witch 20 

690  Tlie  Two  Admirals 20 

615  The  Red  Rover 20 

761  Wing-and-Wing 20 

940  The  Spy 30 

1086  The  Wyandotte 90 

1257  Afloat  and  Ashore 20 

l5j62  Miles  Walllngford  (Sequel  to  "Afloat and  Ashore").....  20 

lt>69  The  Headsman ;  or,  The  Abbayfi  des  Vignerons. 20 

1606  The  Monikins 20 

1681  The  Heidenmauer;  or.  The  Benedictines.    A  Legend  of 

the  Rhine 30 

1691  The  Crater;  or,  Vulcan's  Peak.    A  Tale  of  the  Pacific. ...  20 

CHARLES  DICKENS'  WORKS. 

20  The  Old  Curiosity  Shop 20 

100  A  Tale  of  Two  Cities 20 

109  Hard  Timet. JO 


20 

118  Great  Expectations ^ 

187  David  Copperfleld "■"  ^ 

aOO  Nicholas  Nickleby 20 

■JIS  Barnaby  Rudge '■'■■■  ^q 

218  Dombey  and  Son ;  •  • ;. • ; ". "  V  '  .V,' ■^ " '  "  -in 

239  NoThoroughfarcCCharlesDlckensaod  WilkictollM.-..  10 

247  Martin  Chuzzlewit ^q 

272  The  Cricket  on  the  Hearth 20 

284  Oliver  Twist ......  10 

289  A  Christmas  Carol ■'  ^q 

297  The  Haunted  Man ^ 

804  Little  Dorrit "  jq 

C08  The  Chimes jq 

817  The  Battle  of  Life ^ 

825  Our  Mutual  Friend '  ^ 

837  Bleak  House '  ^0 

352  Pickwick  Papers ^^ 

859  Somebody's  Luggage ^^ 

867  Mrs.  Lirripcr's  Lodgings 

872  Lazy  Tour  of  Two  Idle  Apprentices ••  ^^ 

875  Mugby  Junction ^^ 

403  Tom  Tiddler's  Ground ^ 

498  The  Uncommercial  Traveler ^^ 

521  Master  Humphrey's  Clock •  ^ 

625  Sketches  by  Boz j^ 

639  Sketchesof  Young  Couples ^^ 

827  The  Mudfog  Papers.  &c ^ 

860  TheMysteryof  Edwin  Drood ^^ 

goo  Pictures  From  Italy ^ 

1411  A  Child's  History  of  England •  ^^ 

1464  The  Picnic  Papers '„',"'[. in 

1568  Three  Detective  Anecdotes,  and  Other  Sketches 10 

WORKS  BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF  "DORA  THORNE."    ^^ 

449  More  Bitter  than  Death •■  ^ 

618  Madolin's  Lover 10 

656  A  Golden  Dawn ^q 

746  Wliich  Loved  Him  Best ^ 

840  Dora  Thome jq 

J81  At  War  with  Herself - t 


ftjYWy  MiUon 


TBX  bEAkTDW  LtTHtAHY.-irmmrJty  BOmofh. 


•81  The  Bin  of  a  Lifetime » 

1013  Lady  Gwendoline's  Dream 10 

1016  Wife  in  Name  Oulf - 8C 

1044  Like  No  Other  Love. It' 

10«0  A  Woman's  War 10 

1073  Hikry'sFoily !• 

1074  A  Queen  Amongst  Women ....,,-.  10 

1077  A  Gilded  Sin ..•  — -  W 

1081  A.Bridgeof  Love • '•  1* 

1086  The  Fatal  Lilies •  10 

1099  Wedded  and  Parted <», -   •  10 

1107  A  Bride  From  the  l3*!a. 10 

1110  A  Rose  in  Thorns --•  10 

1115  The  Shadow  of  a  Sin •  o 10 

lia3  Utdeemed  by  Love 10 

liaC  TlioStoryof  a  WeddmgRiBg..... ....,,.  10 

11»7  Love's  Wi.rfhrt' ~ •  ^0 

1133  Uopentedal  Leisure 20 

1179  From  Gloom  to  Sunlight - •••  SO 

1209  Hilda -•■ »•  20 

1218  AGoldeu  Heart • - 20 

1266  Ingledew  House • 10 

1288  A  Broken  Wedding-Kin^ ■ • 20 

1303  LoveForaDay;  or,  Under  the  Lilac* •"■  10 

13()7  Tiic  Wife's  Secret • 10 

1893  Two  Kisses • •••'•  W 

1460  Between  Two  ans ..•- 10 

1640  The  Cost  of  Htr  Love « 20 

1664  Rouiauce  of  a  Black  Veil -..- .'-.... 20 

1704  Her  Mother's  Sin .. .  20 

1761  Thorns  and  Orange Blosfioma. .c.  .o  ,  20 

1844  Pmt  but  False,  and  The  Ueiresa  or  Ame .................  10 

1883  Sunshine  and  Rosea ,.,.-, .,.,o.,,..  20 

1906  In  Cupid's  Net -.- "••<  10 

ALEXANDER  DUMAS'  WORKS. 

144  The  Twin  Lieutenants -«-•  1© 

151  The  Russian  Gipsy 10 

155  The  Count  of  Monte  Cristo  v<:Awtpfete  »»  0ns  Yoiwm^ 20 

160  TlieBlack  Tulip - - *0 

Wl  TJ»e  Qieeo*»  Necklace ,..„,,..,?,,  r ,.,,.  r .  SO 


% 


THE  SEASIDE  LIBnART.-Ordinary  EiMim. 

■  20 

172  The  Chevalier  deMftison  Rouge •••••  ^ 

184  The  Countess  de  Charny "  ^^ 

m  ^o^^phBal^amororVMemol'rs  of  a  Physician 20 

194  The  Conspirators 10 

198  Isabel  of  Bavaria jq 

Z  Exlred.;  .r.TteM».1.8eV.rdlcl(l.,g.  .jp.).-.  » 

^28  Tlio  Regent's  Daiighter •  ^ 

244  The  Three  Guardsmen ^ 

268  Tlie  Forty  five  Guardsmen ^^ 

276  The  Page  of  the  Duke  of  Savoy. 

278  Six  Years  Later;  or.  Taking  the  Bastile •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  ^ 

288  Twenty  Years  After jq 

298  Captain  Paul 10 

806  Three  Strong  Men ....,,....  10 

818  Ingenue :"'^'"l\!'u 20 

381  Adventures  of  a  Marquis,    ^'^st  half 

Vol  I.  (large  type) 20 

Vol.  II.  (large  type) 20 

Vol.  III.  (large  type) 20 

'im  The  Mohicans  of  Paris.     Vol.  IV.  Qarge  ^yP^> -  " ; " " " ' " " ' "  ^ 

844  Ascanio 20 

608  The  Watchmaker 20 

20 
20 
20 
20 


842  The  Mohicans  of  Paris. 
1565  The  Mohicans  of  Paris. 
1565  The  Mohicans  of  Paris. 
1565  The  Mohicans  of  Paris. 


616  The  Two  Dianas 

622  Andr6e  de  Taverney L' " ! '  \ 

664  Vicomte  <le  Bragelonne  (1st  Series) 
664  Vicomte  do  Bragelonne  (2d  Series) 

664  Vicomte  de  Bragelonne  (8d  Series) ^ 

664  Vicomte  de  Bragelonne  (4tU  Series) •  •  •  •  ^ 

688  Chicot,  the  Jester ' 20 

848  Doctor  Basilius ....••••  •  •  •  •_  •  • 

1452  Balvator:  Being  the  continuation  and  conclusion  of    The  ^ 

Mohicans  of  Paris."    Vol.  I •  •  • "_  " 

1452  Salvator:  Being  the  continuation  and  conclusion  of    The  ^ 
Mohicans  of  Paris."    Vol.  II.  .....■•  •  •  •.•••;•;.  '^ 

Salvator:   Being  the  continuation  and  conclusion  of     The 

Mwbica»9of  Paris."    Vol.  lU 


1452 


90 


\inary  EkUHon. 


^sician. 


•diet  (small  type), 
llct (large  type).. 


20 

20 
10 
20 
10 
10 
10 
10 
.  20 
.  10 

20 

20 

10 

Z'.'.'. 30 

20 

10 

10 

10 

20 

f"  ■■'/.". 20 

mtypc) 10 

;etype) 20 

getype) 20 

urge  type) 20 

argetypc) 20 


indconcluBion  of  "The 
nd  conclusion  of  "  The 
,nd  conclmion  of  "  The 


20 


THB  SEAaWB  LIBRABT.—OrMnary  Edition. 


1452  Salvator:   Being  the  continuation  and  conclusion  of  "  The 

Mohicans  of  Paris."    Vol.  IV 20 

1462  Salvator:  Being  the  continuation  and  conclusion  of  "The 

Mohicans  of  Paris."    Vol.  V 20 

1561  The  Oorsican  Brothers 10 

1893  Marguerite  de  Valois.    An  Historical  llomanco 20 

».  „.  -      p.  DU  BOISGOBEY'8  WORKS. 

709  Old  Age  of  Monsieur  Lccoq.    Part  1 20 

709  Old  Age  of  Monsieur  Lccoq.    Part  II 20 

1063  The  Severed  Ilnud  (La  Main  Coupee) 20 

1123  The  Crime  of  tlie  Opera  House.    First  half 20 

1133  Tiie  Crime  of  the  Opera  House.    Second  half 20 

1142  The  Golden  Tress 20 

1225  Tlie  Mystery  of  an  Omnihus 20 

1341  The  Matnpiui  Affair.     First  Imlf 20 

1341  Tlie  Matapnn  Affair.    Second  half 20 

1307  Tlie  Kobbcry  of  the  Orphans;  or,  Jean  Tourniol's  Inherit- 
ance    20 

1350  The  Golden  Pig  (Le  Cochon  d'Or).    Part  1 20 

1350  The  Golden  Pig.     Part  II 20 

1433  His  Great  Revenge.    First  half 20 

1433  His  Great  Revenge.    Second  half 20 

1465  The  Privateersman's  Legacy.    First  half 20 

1465  The  Privateersman's  Legacy.    Second  half 20 

1481  The  Ferry-boat  (Le  Bac) 20 

1534  Satan's  Coach  (L'Equipage  du  Diable).    First  half 20 

1534  Satan's  Coach  (L'Equipage  du  Diable).     Second  half 20 

1550  The  Ace  of  Hearts  (L'As  de  Coeur).    First  half 20 

155C  Tlie  Ace  of  Hearts  (L'As  de  Coeur).    Second  half 20 

1603  Marie-Rose ;  or.  The  Mystery.     First  half 20 

1602  Marie  Rose;  or.  The  Mystery.    Second  half 20 

1717  Sealed  Lips 20 

1742  The  Coral  Pi     80 

1793  Chevalier  CasseCou.    First  half 20 

1798  Chevalier  Caase-Cou.    Second  half 20 

1799  The  Steel  Necklace 90 

1800  Bertha's  Secret.    Firsthalf 20 

1800  Bertha's  Secret.    Second  half 20 

1841  Merindol 20 

1819  Tbe  Iroo  l^Iask.    Firsthalf *«....!  .iit,>>tiif<<<  W 


iWJff  6BA8Wn  irSnART.-OretinMTf  JRMNni. 


1842  The  Iron  Mask.    Second  half 9k 

1874  Pieiloucljc,  a  French  DetecHvo 30 

1885  The  Sculptor's  Daughter.     First  half 20 

1885  Tlie  Sculptor's  Daughter.    Second  half 20 

1886  Zonobie  Capitaine.    First  half 30 

1880  Zt'nobic  Capitaine.     Second  half 20 

1925  Uabiolo,  the  Pretty  Milliner.     First  half ■ . . .  20 

EMILE  GABORIAU'S  WORKS. 

408  Pile  No.  113 30 

465  Monsieur  Lecoq.     First  half 20 

405  Monsieur  Lecoq.     Second  half 20 

476  Tlie  Slaves  of  Paris.     First  half 20 

470  Tho  Slaves  of  Paris.     Second  half 20 

490  Marriage  at  a  Venture 10 

494  The  Mystery  of  Orcival 20 

501  Other  People's  Money 20 

509  Within  an  Inch  of  His  Life 20 

515  Tlie  Widow  Lerouge 20 

523  Tlie  Clique  of  Gold 20 

671  The  Count't  decret.     Part  1 20 

671  Tho  Count's  Secret.    Part  II 20 

704  Captain  Contanceau;  or,  Tho  Volunteers  of  1793, 10 

741  The  Downward  Path;  or.  A  House  Built  on  Sand  (La  De- 

gringolade).    Part  1 20 

741  The  Downward  Path;  or,  A  House  Built  on  Sand  (La  De- 

gringolade).    Part  II 30 

758  The  Little  Old  Man  of  the  Baliguolles 10 

778  The  Men  of  tlie  Bureau 10 

789  Promises  of  Marriage.  <-.- 10 

818  The  13th  Hussars. 10 

834  AThousand  Francs  Reward 10 

899  Max's  Marriage;  or.  The  Vicomte's  Choice 10 

1184  The  Marquise  do  Briuvilliers 20 

MARY  CECIL  HAY'S  WORK& 

8  The  Arundel  Motto 10 

407  The  Arundel  Motto  (in  large  type) 20 

9  Old  Myddelton's  Money .10 

427  Old  Myddelton's  Money  (in  large  type) 20 

J7HWdwPerU8 ,...,, tO 


THIS  SKASWK  imRAIiY.— Ordinary  KldUion. 

484  Hidden  Pcrllfl  (in  large  type) 20 

28  The  Squire's  Legacy 10 

616  Tlie  Squire's  Legacy  (in  largo  type) 20 

27  Victor  and  Vanquished 20 

29  Nora's  Love  Test 10 

421  Nora's  Love  Test  (in  large  type) 20 

275  A  Shadow  on  tlio  Threshold 10 

803  Reaping  the  Whirlwind 10 

884  Rack  to  the  Old  Home 10  i 

415  A  Dark  Inheritance , 10  » 

440  The  Sorrow  of  a  Secret,  and  Lady  Carmicltael's  Will 10 

080  Brenda  Yorke 10 

724  For  Her  Dear  Sake 20 

852  Missing 10 

855  Dolf's  Big  Brother 10 

930  In  the  Holidays,  and  Tlie  Name  Cut  on  a  Gate 10 

985  Under  Life's  Key,  and  Olher  Stories 20 

972  Into  the  Shade,  and  Otiier  Stories 30 

1011  My  First  Offer 10 

1014  Told  in  New  England,  and  Other  Tales 10 

1010  At  llie  Seaside;  or,  A  Sister's  Sacrifice 10 

1220  Dorothy's  Venture 20 

1221  Among  tlie  Uiiins.  and  Other  Stories 10 

1431  "A  Little  Aversion  " 10 

1549  Bid  Me  Discourse 10 

CHAULES  LEVER'S  WORKS. 

98  Harry  Lorrequer 20 

132  Jack  Hinton,  the  Guardsman 20 

187  A  Rent  in  a  Cloud 10 

146  Charles  O'Malley,  the  Irish  Dragoon  (Triple  Number) 30 

152  Arthur  O'Leary 20 

168  ConCregan 20 

169  St.  Patrick's  Eve 10 

174  Kate  O'Donoghue 20 

257  That  Boy  of  Norcott's 10 

296  Tom  Burke  of  "  Ours."    First  half 20 

296  Tom  Burke  of  "  Ours."    Second  lialf 20 

819  Davenport  Dunn.     First  half. 20 

819  Davenport  Dunn.     Second  half 20 

464  Gerald  Fitzgerald "      '. 20 


rf' 


TBtt  UKAf^TTtK  T.mnAnr-^'yiiruvf,  »««*^' 


20 
20 
20 


'^ 


Piirtl.. 
Part  II. 


20 
20 
20 
20 
20 


470  Tbe  PorHinca  of  Oleucoro.. . 

S20  Lord  Kllgobbln 

646  Maurice  Tlernay 

686  ADay'8  Ride 

600  Barrlngton ' 

688  Sir  Jasper  Carew,  Knight. . 
657  Tlie  Martins  of  Cro'  Martin. 
657  The  Marlins  of  Cro'  Martin 

822  Tony  Butler 

872  Luttrell  of  Arran.  Parti.. 
872  Luttrell  of  Arran.    Part  II 

95t  Paul  Gosslctt'8  ConfcBsions 1" 

966  Oneof  Them.    First  half *" 

065  OneofThem.     Second  half *" 

980  Sir  Brook  FoBsbrooke.     Parti *" 

980  Sir  Brook  Fossbrooke.     Part  II ^^ 

1286  The  Bramleighs  of  BiMiop's  Folly J» 

1809  The  Dodd  Family  Abroad.  First  half 2» 

1809  The  Dodd  Family  Abroad.  Second  half 20 

1842  Horace  Temploton 

1894  Roland  Cashcl.    First  half ^ 

1894  Roland  Cashel.    Second  half ••;••••■•■••,•,; '  Z 

1496  The  Daltons;  or.  Three  Roads  in  Life.    First  ha  I 20 

1496  The  Daltons;  or,  Three  Roads  in  Life.    Second  halt 20 


H 


GEORGE  MACDONALD'S  WORKS. 


20 
20 


466  Paul  Faber,  Surgeon 

491  Sir  Gibble •••  

695  The  Annals  of  a  Quiet  Neighborhood ^ 

606  The  Seaboard  Parish -^^ 

627  Thomas  Wingfold.  Curate 

648  The  Vicar's  Daughter 

668  David  Elginbrod 

677  St.  George  and  St.  Michael 

790  Alec  Forbes  of  Howglen 

887  Malcolm 

922  Mary  Marston 

988  Guild  Court.     A  London  Story •  ■ 

948  The  Marquis  of  Lossle 

962  Robert  Falconer 

1876  Castle  Warlock :  A  Homely  Romance 


20 
20 
20 
20 
20 
20 
20 
2C 
2( 
2( 


■--?iS^?*?--u';s>^ 


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y  Banw,"  Li-OY  Randall  Comfort,  CiiAnLoxTE  M.  Bbaemb,  author  of 
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MlINHu'S    I'UUUCA 

THE  SEASIDE  I. 

(POOKBJT  BSDM 

LATEST  I88U 

U7  American  Notes.   By  (^h 

448  Pictures  From  Iliilv.  an 

Tapers,  &o.  By  CUarl 
440  Peeress  and   Player. 

Marryat  

480  Godfrey  Helstone.    By  i 

Cralk  

4M  Market  Harboroufth,  ai 

Bar.  ByO.  J.  Whyte 
4!i8  In  the  West  Countrie.  1 

melln ■■ 

453  The  Lottery  Ticket.    E 

Kobey 

m  The  Mvstery  of  Edwii 

dharles  Dickens 

455  Lnzarus  in  London.  E 
Inson • 

456  Sketches  by  Boz.  rl 
Every -day  Life  and  K 
pie.    By  Charles  Dick 

457  The  Russians  at  the  Gi 
Bv  Charles  Marvin.. 

458  A  Week  of  Passion ;  or, 
of  Mr.  Geonte  Barton 


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CELEBRATED 


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leading  - 
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>   BY   THI    LEADIMO   ART1 
rnciurera,  No.  1 19  to  ISS  K.  14th  Btreet, 


MllNHu'8    I'llUIJCATIOt 

THE  SEASIDE  UU 

(POOKBT  BSDITIOii 
lATEST  ISSUES. 
W  American  Notes.  By  Clinilei 
448  Pictures  From  Itiily.  andTh 

Papers,  &o.    By  Charles  1 
440  Peeress  and   Player.     By 

Mnrryat  •  — 

480  Godfrey  Helstone.    By  Qeor 

Oralk •    ■ 

4M  Market  Harborou(tH,  and  Ii 

Bar.    By  O.  J.  Why te  Mel 
Vi'i  In  the  West  Countrle.  By  Mj 

melln ■•••™i 

455  The  Lottery  Ticket.  By  F.  i 
Kobey .■■■i^ 

1,'M  The  Jlystery  of  Edwin  Di 
dharleg  Dickens ••  ■ 

45r>  Lnzarus  in  London.  By  F. 
inson ••  — 

456  Sketches  by  Boz.  Illusti 
Every  dav  Life  and  Every 
pie.    By  Cliarles  Dickens. 

4.^7  The  Russians  at  the  Uates  • 

Bv  Charles  Marvin 

488  A  Week  of  Passion;  or,  The 
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lal  power  to 
)ves  the  sur- 
— Bismarck. 

pr.  It  Is  the 
r  known  for 

TONE 


h  St.,  N.  Y. 

'  mall  $1. 


OEORGE  MITMRO,  Pii 

P.  O.  Box  87B1.  n  to  27  Vandew 


w! 


